Two Men Arrested for Torturing NYC Man for Bitcoin Password

Two cryptocurrency investors, William Duplessie and John Woeltz, have been arrested in New York City for allegedly kidnapping and torturing a 28-year-old Italian man to obtain his Bitcoin password. The victim, who arrived in the U.S. on May 6, was held captive for weeks in an upscale Manhattan townhouse where he was beaten, electroshocked, pistol-whipped, and threatened with death, including being dangled over a ledge. The captors also forced him to smoke drugs and used a chainsaw on his leg. The man escaped after agreeing to give up his password, fleeing bloodied and barefoot to alert authorities. Police discovered evidence including drugs, weapons, body armor, night vision goggles, and photos depicting the victim's abuse. The case highlights increasing security concerns in the cryptocurrency industry amid rising ransom threats, with other incidents prompting enhanced protections internationally.