Cryptocurrency Investor Arrested for Kidnapping and Torture of Italian Tourist

A horrific tale of kidnapping and torture has unfolded in New York City, where a cryptocurrency investor, John Woeltz, allegedly bound and subjected an Italian tourist, Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, to weeks of beatings, electric shocks, and mock executions. Carturan, 28, had arrived in New York on May 6 and was renting a luxurious townhouse in Manhattan when Woeltz and his accomplices seized his laptop, phone, and passport, demanding that he hand over his cryptocurrency password. The victim's ordeal ended when he finally agreed to give up the password, allowing him to escape and alert the police, who found evidence of the atrocities committed, including cocaine, a gun, and Polaroid photos of the victim bound and tortured.

Key Takeaways:

• John Woeltz, a 37-year-old cryptocurrency investor, was arrested for kidnapping with intent to collect ransom, assault, unlawful imprisonment, and other offenses related to the torture of Italian tourist Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan.
• Carturan was bound and subjected to weeks of torture, including beatings, electric shocks, mock executions, and forced to smoke crack cocaine, after Woeltz and his accomplices seized his laptop, phone, and passport.
• The victim was able to escape and alert the police after finally agreeing to hand over his cryptocurrency password, which was stored on his laptop.
• Evidence of the atrocities committed was found at the scene, including cocaine, a gun, and Polaroid photos of the victim bound and tortured.
• A second person, 24-year-old former actress Beatrice Folchi, was arrested in connection with kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment charges, but the district attorney's office declined to prosecute her pending further investigation.
• A third suspect, identified only as an "unapprehended male," is still being sought for his role in the plot.
• Woeltz's arrest took place after the victim, who was treated for injuries consistent with his account, flagged down a police officer on the street.

Statistics:

• The victim, Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, spent three weeks in captivity.
• During his captivity, Carturan was subjected to beatings, electric shocks, and mock executions, as well as forced to smoke crack cocaine.
• Evidence found at the scene included cocaine, a gun, and ammunition, a saw, chicken wire, body armor, and night vision goggles.
• The victim's injuries were treated at a hospital, where prosecutors said they were consistent with his account of being bound and assaulted.

Sources:

• "Cryptocurrency investor 'kidnapped Italian tourist for bitcoin password'," la Repubblica newspaper.
• "Crypto King of Kentucky Arrested for Alleged Kidnapping and Torture of Italian Tourist," New York Post.
• "Cryptocurrency investor arrested for kidnapping and torture of Italian tourist," CNN.