Accused Crypto Kidnappers in NYC Plead Not Guilty to Torture Charges

Two men accused of kidnapping and torturing an Italian tourist in New York City’s SoHo neighbourhood last month have pleaded not guilty to all charges.

During a Wednesday hearing at the New York Supreme Criminal Court, John Woeltz and William Duplessie entered their pleas in connection to the alleged abduction and imprisonment of Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan.

Prosecutors claim the pair, believed to be acquaintances of the victim, subjected Carturan to beatings and electric shocks over a span of nearly three weeks in an effort to extract access to his cryptocurrency wallet.

The charges—first-degree kidnapping, assault, and unlawful imprisonment—could carry a life sentence if the men are convicted.

Justice Gregory Carro ordered both defendants held without bail pending their next court date on 15 July.

A third suspect was also arrested in the case but has since been released.

Carturan reportedly escaped and alerted police, leading to the arrests.

The case has also drawn scrutiny over potential lapses in security: two NYPD officers assigned to Mayor Eric Adams' private security detail were placed on modified duty after allegedly driving the victim from the airport to the apartment where he was later held.

The mayor’s office said in a statement:

“Every city employee is expected to follow the law, including our officers, both on and off duty. We are disturbed by these allegations, and as soon as it came to our attention, the officers were placed on modified duty.”

As of Wednesday, neither officer faced criminal charges.

Claims of Accuser Laughing and Smiling Surfaced

Despite the serious charges of kidnapping and torture, recently surfaced footage has cast doubt on aspects of the prosecution’s case.

The alleged victim—reportedly a former business associate of both Woeltz and Duplessie—appears in videos walking freely around the apartment where he claims he was held, prompting scepticism about the circumstances of his captivity.

The prosecutor said:

“Victims of abuse are not always going to act the way we expect them to.”

Defense attorneys argue that their client’s behaviour in the footage, which allegedly shows him laughing, smoking crack cocaine, and engaging in group sex, contradicts the image of someone being held against his will.

Lawyers for both Woeltz and Duplessie contend that the accuser was not confined and had freedom of movement throughout the city on the days in question.

Woeltz’s attorney further cited eyewitness accounts claiming the man was not restrained and moved about freely.

Sam Talkin, Duplessie’s lawyer stated in criminal court on Wednesday:

“The story that he is selling doesn’t make sense.”

However, prosecutors maintain the evidence tells a far more disturbing story.

Assistant District Attorney Sarah Khan suggested the leaked footage was selectively released to create a misleading counter-narrative.

Prosecutors say the victim was bound, beaten, electrocuted, and subjected to psychological torment in an attempt to access his crypto wallet.

Police recovered items including a loaded firearm and a chainsaw, which authorities say corroborate the victim’s account.

Shocking images have also emerged, showing the man with a gun to his head and others allegedly depicting him being set on fire—acts prosecutors say were carried out with enough restraint to avoid lasting injuries, including dousing flames with urine.

Authorities are now investigating the possibility of additional victims, suggesting this may not have been the first time the defendants held someone against their will.

NYC Leadership Eyes a Warmer Welcome for Crypto Industry

Adams has positioned New York City as a crypto-forward hub, hosting a digital asset summit at his official residence and advocating for innovative tools like Bitcoin-backed municipal bonds.

He has also been a vocal critic of the state’s BitLicense regime—a regulatory framework in place since 2015 that requires any digital asset firm operating or managing crypto investments for New York residents to obtain a license.

But recent events have complicated that vision.

The high-profile kidnapping and alleged torture of a crypto holder in Manhattan marks the latest in a troubling global pattern of attacks targeting individuals believed to hold or manage significant cryptocurrency assets.

As New York seeks to attract more blockchain investment, the case raises urgent questions about how to balance innovation with safety and oversight.