Bitcoin becomes a kidnapping incentive? A well-known crypto world investor imprisoned and abused an Italian man to extort his password.

According to a comprehensive report by the New York News, a cryptocurrency investor in the United States was recently arrested in New York. He is suspected of collaborating with accomplices to kidnap a 28-year-old Italian man and illegally imprisoning him for nearly three weeks in a luxury apartment in Manhattan. The suspect forced him to reveal his Bitcoin wallet password. The victim eventually managed to escape and reported to the police. Such violent crimes related to cryptocurrency are occurring globally. The suspect had previously been seen frequently at cryptocurrency seminars, where he had also served as a speaker.

NBC News exclusively exposed the footage of the victim fleeing barefoot from the scene to report the crime to the police, the victim is now being treated in the hospital, there are still many doubts about the case, and prosecutors are still investigating the relationship between the victim and the kidnapper.

The victim was kidnapped immediately after arriving in New York from Italy.

According to the indictment released by the prosecution, 37-year-old Kentucky man John Woeltz has been charged with kidnapping, assault, unlawful imprisonment, and illegal possession of a firearm. He was arrested last Friday night and appeared in court for the first time on Saturday, where the court ordered that he be held without bail.

According to the investigation, the victim arrived in New York from Italy in early May and was abducted and controlled by John Woeltz and his accomplice, William Duplessie. Police said Woeltz rented an apartment in Manhattan for $30,000 to $40,000 a month, which became the site of illegal captivity for the victim, and two suspects forcibly seized the victim's passport and beat him, gave him an electric shock, and even pointed a gun to his head to force him to hand over the password for the withdrawal of bitcoin.

Prosecutors said the victims were drugged, forced to take crack and at one point hung outside the windowsill, putting their lives in danger. Allegedly, he thought he would be shot, and on the morning of May 24, pretending to cooperate in handing over the password, he fled the apartment while the suspect turned to get his computer, stopping a traffic police officer on the street for help.

When police searched the crime scene, they found several key pieces of evidence, including crackers, saws, barbed wire, body armor, night vision goggles, ammunition, and several Polaroid photographs showing the victim's torture. Prosecutors also pointed out that John Woeltz, who owns private jets and helicopters and has absconding capabilities, has ordered him to surrender his passport.

The second accomplice in the kidnapping case surrendered to the police.

The second suspect in the kidnapping case, William Duplessie, surrendered to the police on Tuesday. He is accused of collaborating with John Woeltz to carry out the kidnapping, extortion, and other crimes. Reports suggest that he and John Woeltz are business partners. The police also arrested a woman on the day of the incident, but the prosecution has yet to file charges against her.

Is it all the fault of the Bitcoin surge?

Bitcoin has surged this year, creating many new millionaires, but it has also attracted the attention of many criminals. There are more and more cases of robbery and kidnapping targeting the new wealthy in Crypto Assets. Prosecutors have stated that this case exposes the risks hidden in Bitcoin and Crypto Assets, indicating that criminals are beginning to covet digital assets and engage in direct violent crimes. Recently, French police arrested over 20 people, investigating multiple attempted kidnappings of Crypto Assets millionaires, showing that such crimes are spreading across borders.

Criminal defense attorney David Seltzer, specializing in cybercrime, stated that cases of kidnapping Crypto Assets holders are becoming increasingly frequent, as it is a quick way to directly steal virtual currency from encryption Wallets without needing to rob a bank. The case is currently under further investigation, and the police are calling on the public for clues to assist in solving the case and identifying other suspects.

Is Bitcoin a motive for kidnapping? A well-known cryptocurrency investor has imprisoned and abused an Italian man to extort his password. This first appeared in Chain News ABMedia.