Manhattan Torture Suspect Released on $1 Million Bond: Alleged Bitcoin Password Extortion Case
A suspect in the brutal torture of an Italian millionaire in a Manhattan townhouse has been released on a $1 million bond after spending two months in jail. John Woeltz, 37, was granted bail by a Manhattan judge along with his accomplice, William Duplessie, 33, in the alleged kidnapping and torture of Italian crypto trader Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan. Woeltz had been in custody since his arrest on May 23, accused of torturing Carturan for his Bitcoin password, including setting him on fire and cutting him with a chainsaw. The judge allowed their release on the condition that they could not pay the bail in cryptocurrency.
Woeltz's bond was secured by celebrity bondsman Ira Judelson, and he was released to home confinement with electronic monitoring. The judge warned him that the monitoring bracelet must remain charged at all times. The alleged torture of Carturan, who has since returned to Italy, was reportedly carried out in a SoHo townhouse in an attempt to steal his $100 million Bitcoin password. Woeltz, a cryptocurrency investor from Kentucky, allegedly threatened the victim's family in Italy and subjected him to humiliation during captivity.
Despite the disturbing allegations and evidence, Woeltz's attorney dismissed the torture as "fraternity-like hazing," claiming that Carturan was participating as a pledge in a long-running frat party. The duo's actions, including forcing Carturan to take drugs and having people urinate on him, were captured on video and photos. Duplessie, who is from Miami, Florida, remains in custody with his next court date scheduled for October 15.