Tourist Abducted for Bitcoin Extortion in New York City
Cryptocurrency Entrepreneur Accused of Kidnapping and Torture in Manhattan
A chilling incident has unfolded in the world of cryptocurrency, as a 28-year-old Italian tourist was recently held captive for several weeks in Manhattan, New York. According to recent reports, the captor, identified as John Woeltz, a 37-year-old Kentucky-based entrepreneur, set a trap to steal the victim's personal identifiers and access to his Bitcoins.
Woeltz was taken into custody last Friday, May 23, after being charged with kidnapping with intent to collect ransom, assault, and illegal imprisonment. A second person, 24-year-old Beatrice Folchi from Manhattan, was also arrested for kidnapping and detention; however, her prosecution has been deferred pending further investigation.
Upon arriving in New York on May 6, the victim went to a residence rented by Woeltz, who lured him with the promise of recovering cryptocurrency. Once inside, the young man endured weeks of brutal torture. He was tied up, subjected to electric shocks, threatens with a gun, forced to smoke crack, and tortured with a saw. His passport, identity papers, and phones were also confiscated to extract his passwords to access his Bitcoins.
The abuse continued until the victim managed to escape, revealing his personal information. Bloodied and traumatized, he sought help from a nearby traffic agent, who immediately contacted the police. Upon arrival, officers found Polaroid photos of the victim tied up, a gun, and various torture-related items in the residence.
This harrowing case underscores the need to address the growing issue of crimes associated with the cryptocurrency sector, as investors and their families increasingly become targets for kidnappings and attempted kidnappings.
Sources:- Le Parisien- CBS News
- The kidnapping incident in Manhattan, involving a cryptocurrency entrepreneur, underscores the need for more discussion on general-news topics, specifically crimes-and-justice related to technology and finance, such as the security of digital assets like Bitcoins.
- In the wake of the Manhattan kidnapping case, where a cryptocurrency entrepreneur used technology to trap a victim and access his Bitcoins, it is essential to reinforce financial regulation and implement stricter labeling of risky investments, to protect consumers and safeguard their investments from fraudulent activities.
