Introduction to the Investigation
An Italian man escaped from a house on Prince Street in New York City last week, where he said he had been held captive for 17 days and allegedly tortured by two business partners. Two NYPD members, including a detective on Mayor Eric Adams’ security detail, have been placed on modified desk duty after links surfaced to the two crypto businessmen charged with kidnapping an Italian tourist, sources tell News 4.
What to Know
- An Italian man escaped from a house on Prince Street in New York City last week, where he said he had been held captive for 17 days and allegedly tortured by two business partners
- Two NYPD members, including a detective on Mayor Eric Adams’ security detail have been placed on modified desk duty after links surfaced to the two crypto businessmen charged with kidnapping an Italian tourist, sources tell News 4
- The detective allegedly provided security for the Prince Street townhouse where the Italian man was held and it’s believed he may have picked up the tourist from the airport and brought him to SoHo, sources tell News 4
- City Hall said it is "disturbed by these allegations" and the investigation into the officer’s behavior is ongoing
- John Woeltz, was arrested in his bathrobe outside the scene; he is expected in court on kidnap and torture charges, among others, on Wednesday. A second suspect, William Duplessie, surrendered in connection with the case a day ago
Two members of the NYPD, including a detective in Mayor Eric Adams’ security detail, have been placed on modified duty this week after links surfaced to two crypto businessmen charged with kidnapping an Italian tourist earlier this month, sources closes to the case tell News 4.
Sources familiar with the case say NYPD brass learned the detective assigned to protect Adams had provided security at the Prince Street townhouse in Nolita where crypto businessmen John Woeltz and William Duplessie allegedly tortured and held captive an Italian tourist for 17 days. Sources believe the detective – working off duty for the two crypto businessmen – also picked up the Italian tourist from the airport earlier this month.
An IAB investigation underway is looking into whether the detective may have transported the tourist to the Prince Street townhouse where he was held. It is unclear whether the detective or the other NYPD member had any knowledge or involvement in the alleged kidnap and torture plot. A source familiar with the case said that both detectives are on modified duty pending the outcome of the same investigation.
"Members of the service were modified yesterday. The matter is under internal review," the NYPD said in a statement.
It is not unusual for members of the NYPD to moonlight in outside security jobs while off-duty, though it is not known whether this particular side gig was approved by the department.
"Every city employee is expected to follow the law, including our officers, both on and off duty," City Hall said in a statement. "We are disturbed by these allegations, and as soon as it came to our attention, the officers were placed on modified duty. The investigation is ongoing."
Woeltz and Duplessie are both being held on multiple charges including kidnapping.
A second man is set to face a judge after his arrest in a shocking investigation involving cryptocurrency, kidnapping and torture. William Duplessie surrendered to the NYPD on Tuesday, accused of holding an Italian businessman hostage for weeks in an effort to gain access to his Bitcoin account.
Who is John Woeltz?
Authorities believe Woeltz is a big-name cryptocurrency trader from Kentucky with an estimated worth around $100 million; sources said the victim is worth an estimated $30 million. Woeltz had reportedly been renting out the Nolita residence at a monthly rate of at least $30,000.
The luxury six-story pad has an elevator and was described by sources as a "high-end frat house" with bottles of liquor strewn about and stripper poles in the basement. Neighbors said they could hear loud partying at all hours of the night, but they had no idea of the alleged torture going on within its walls.
Sources told News 4 that Woeltz and Duplessie roughed
