2nd suspect charged in Bitcoin kidnapping and torture case in NYC
Police in New York City arrested a second suspect in the alleged kidnapping of a 28-year-old man who said he was held captive in luxury Manhattan townhouse and tortured for his Bitcoin password.
The New York Police Department identified the suspect as William Duplessie, 33, and said he was arrested Tuesday on charges of assault, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment and criminal possession of a firearm. His last known address is in Miami, Florida.
On Friday, the victim, an Italian national authorities have not publicly identified, escaped the upscale apartment and flagged down a traffic officer on the street.
John Woeltz, 37, was taken into custody the same day and charged in the alleged kidnapping and torture scheme.
It was not immediately clear whether Duplessie has retained a lawyer.
Evidence of alleged torture discovered in Manhattan townhouse
Prosecutors say the victim was lured to the lavish townhouse by being told he would be able to retrieve Bitcoin, which he had allegedly been forced to send Woeltz, a crypto investor. One Bitcoin is currently worth more than $100,000.
Prosecutors said the victim told them that while he was being held he was shocked with electric wires, his leg was cut with a saw and he was forced to smoke crack cocaine in an effort to make him give up his Bitcoin password. At one point, he was allegedly dangled over the apartment's top flight of stairs.
Prosecutors said at the scene authorities recovered chicken wire, ballistic helmets, body armor, night vision goggles, a saw and photos of the victim with a firearm pointed at his head.
Contributing: John Bacon
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