William Duplessie and John Woeltz, both facing charges of kidnapping and torturing an Italian man in a bid to steal his Bitcoin, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday during their arraignment in Manhattan criminal court. The two crypto investors were ordered to be held in custody until their next court appearance, scheduled for July 15.
Duplessie, 32, and Woeltz, 37, are accused of luring the 28-year-old victim to a Manhattan townhouse on May 6 by threatening his family. Prosecutors allege the victim was held captive for 17 days and subjected to horrific torture, including being tormented with electrical wires, forced to smoke crack cocaine, and at one point, dangled from a staircase five stories high. The victim, whose name has not been released, claims he was eventually coerced into providing his computer password before managing to escape. After escaping, he ran barefoot and bloodied to the nearest police officer.
In court, lawyers for Duplessie and Woeltz argued for their release on $1 million bail and home confinement with their parents. They claimed the victim was not in distress during his time in New York and presented photos and videos purportedly showing him "laughing and smiling" and moving freely around Manhattan. Sam Talkin, Duplessie's lawyer, stated that the evidence included photos of the accuser visiting an eyeglass store with one of the defendants and moving freely in and out of the house. He said the man could have sought help or fled at any time. Talkin stated that videos show the accuser participating in group sex and smoking crack cocaine while ''laughing and smiling the whole time.'' “This narrative is entirely false," Talkin said. “The story that he is selling doesn't make sense.”
Prosecutors countered these claims, arguing that victims of abuse do not always react as expected. Prosecutor Sania Khan argued that someone supporting the defendants was selectively leaking videos to present a counternarrative of the events. Khan emphasized that the man ran barefoot and bloodied to the nearest police officer after escaping, indicating clear distress. Police searching the townhouse allegedly found corroborating evidence, including a loaded pistol, a chainsaw, and other instruments purportedly used in the torture. They also located photographs, including one where the defendants point a gun to the accuser's head, another where the accuser is tied to a wheelchair, and still another showing the accuser being set on fire.
Woeltz has been described as a blockchain investor who previously worked in Silicon Valley before returning to Kentucky's crypto-mining sector. Following the arrest of Duplessie and Woeltz, New York City police are also investigating two detectives who worked security at the Manhattan townhouse where the alleged kidnapping and torture occurred. The officers have been placed on modified leave pending the outcome of the inquiry. The detectives' lawyer stated that there is no indication that either officer witnessed any illegal activity.
If convicted, Duplessie and Woeltz face charges of kidnapping, assault, unlawful imprisonment, and criminal possession of a weapon, potentially leading to life in prison.
