Disturbing Crypto Abduction In New York: Who Is John Victor Woeltz?
In a recent cryptocurrency-related kidnapping incident, a man named John Victor Woeltz was apprehended on Friday (May 23) on charges of abducting an unnamed Italian national in New York and subjecting him to weeks of torture to seize the man’s Bitcoin.
Woeltz, alongside another unidentified accomplice, reportedly kept the Italian tourist captive for two weeks in a Manhattan residence until the victim succeeded in escaping and notifying law enforcement.
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A crypto enthusiast from Kentucky reportedly transformed a $40K/month SoHo rental into a fully operational torture chamber to extort millions from an Italian visitor.
Authorities state that John Woeltz restrained the man for two weeks, subjected him to electric shocks,… pic.twitter.com/55pZIm3g3G
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 24, 2025
John Victor Woeltz Taken Into Custody The Same Day The Kidnapping Victim Escaped
John Victor Woeltz, 37, was arrested on Friday (May 23), coinciding with the victim’s escape from the Manhattan location.
Woeltz faced arraignment on Saturday, charged with second-degree assault, kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, and criminal possession of a firearm, according to court documentation.
Investigative sources indicated that Woeltz, the tourist, and a yet-to-be-identified third party had maintained a business association for several years. Law enforcement continues to pursue the third partner, who remains unnamed.
Woeltz’s attorney refrained from commenting on Saturday. A judge approved a request to keep Woeltz in custody during the Saturday hearing. His next scheduled court appearance is on Wednesday.
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Italian Victim Allegedly Held And Tortured For 17 Days In Pursuit Of BTC Password, Yet Remained Resilient
(SOURCE)
The tourist, a 28-year-old individual from Italy, crossed paths with his alleged captor on May 6, according to sources. On that same day, Woeltz is said to have taken the Italian visitor to a rental home in Nolita, an upscale area within New York’s Manhattan.
As detailed in a criminal complaint submitted in New York, Woeltz and an unidentified “unapprehended male” abducted the victim, confiscated his electronic devices and passport, and subjected him to torture until his escape seventeen days later.
The duo aimed to compel the victim to provide access to his BTC holdings. When he declined, they physically assaulted him, electrocuted him with wires, and struck his head with a firearm.
Woeltz and the third associate reportedly threatened the victim at gunpoint multiple times, dangled him over a staircase from a high floor, and uttered threats of death if he withheld his password.
Investigative sources also allege that the kidnappers urinated on the victim and placed an Apple AirTag around his neck to prevent his escape.
Details regarding the victim’s escape on Friday remain undisclosed. Nonetheless, once he got away, the Italian encountered a traffic officer who contacted the authorities, leading to John Victor Woeltz’s subsequent arrest at the Nolita residence.
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The next crypto-related kidnapping in Europe unfolded in Paris, France
— CR1337 (@cryptonator1337) May 13, 2025
Upon examining Woeltz’s history, the rationale behind the kidnapping appears unexpected. Reports suggest that the alleged captor is a well-known crypto crypto holder hailing from Kentucky, boasting a net worth exceeding $100 million.
In contrast, sources claim the Italian victim possesses an estimated net worth of about $30 million. Given the trio’s purported long-term business connections, numerous motives might underpin Woeltz and his partner’s extreme actions to extract the victim’s Bitcoin password.
Sources indicate that Woeltz had been leasing the Prince Street property for a monthly cost between $30,000 and $40,000. An online advertisement for the home specifies that it was last rented in March for $75,000.
Whether it stemmed from a failed business arrangement or sheer avarice, this incident follows a series of cryptocurrency-linked kidnappings in France and beyond.
Earlier this year, a co-founder of the crypto hardware wallet company, Database, was kidnapped along with his wife during a ransom attempt. David Balland suffered a finger amputation throughout the experience before French special forces executed a successful rescue operation that also ensured Balland’s wife was found unharmed.
Moreover, just weeks ago, the daughter and granddaughter of a French crypto trading network owner were victims of an attempted crypto kidnapping in broad daylight on the streets of Paris.
Fortunately, the daughter’s spouse defended against the attackers until members of the public intervened, forcing the criminals to abandon their plans.
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The post Shocking Crypto Kidnapping In New York: Who Is John Victor Woeltz? first appeared on 99Bitcoins.
