Crypto investor charged in alleged torture, kidnapping of Italian tourist

A cryptocurrency investor from Kentucky has been charged in a disturbing case involving the alleged kidnapping and torture of an Italian tourist inside a luxury Manhattan residence.

John Woeltz, 37, appeared before a New York Criminal Court judge on Saturday, facing a series of serious charges including kidnapping for ransom, assault, and unlawful imprisonment.

Authorities say Woeltz was arrested after a 28-year-old Italian man escaped from a SoHo townhome where he had allegedly been held against his will for weeks. The man, whose identity has not been made public, is now in stable condition in a local hospital.

A second suspect, 24-year-old Beatrice Folchi, was also taken into custody Saturday in connection with the case.

Police say the victim arrived in New York from Italy on May 6 and went to Woeltz’s residence, where his passport was confiscated and he was reportedly detained. According to a criminal complaint cited by ABC News, the victim said he was beaten, tortured, and even dangled off a ledge after refusing to hand over his bitcoin password.

Officers responding to the incident reportedly discovered firearms and several Polaroid photos showing the victim bound and subjected to abuse inside the high-end SoHo property. Reports suggest Woeltz had been renting the townhouse for USD 30,000 to USD 40,000 per month.