June 3, 2025
Crypto bigwig surrenders to NYPD for questioning in sick SoHo torture case: sources
 #CriptoNews

Crypto bigwig surrenders to NYPD for questioning in sick SoHo torture case: sources #CriptoNews

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The crypto trader wanted for questioning in the horrific torture of an Italian bitcoin dealer inside a posh SoHo townhouse turned himself in to cops Tuesday — after living it up in the Hamptons over the holiday weekend, law enforcement sources told The Post.

William Duplessie became a person of interest in the gruesome case after Italian crypto millionaire Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan broke free from his captors on Friday and tipped off the cops.

The alleged accomplice turned himself in at 7:45 a.m. Tuesday, sources said.

William Duplessie is walking out of the NYPD 13th precinct in cuffs, going to central booking. William Farrington
William Duplessie became a person of interest in the gruesome case after Italian crypto millionaire Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan broke free from his captors on Friday and tipped off the cops. NBC New York

Police previously moved in and busted Kentucky crypto king John Woeltz, who was charged with torturing Carturan for more than a week in order to pry his bitcoin password from him.

Cops also arrested Woeltz’s assistant, Beatrice Folchi, but the 24-year-old beauty was cut loose by the Manhattan DA’s office, which declined to prosecute her pending further investigation.

Duplessie was the last remaining alleged culprit being sought.

According to his bio on kando.tech, he founded the Lugano, Switzerland-based Pangea Digital Asset Group and Pangea Blockchain Fund in 2019 with his father, James, and brother, Stephen.

Suspect John Woeltz being led out of Manhattan’s 5th Precinct on May 23, 2025. David Burns
Investigators are closing off the apartment where the Italian businessman was allegedly kidnapped and tortured. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post

In a 2017 interview with bitcoin blogger Tai Lopez, Duplessie bragged that he began trading in the stock market at age 11 before focusing on the cryptocurrency market.

Sources said Duplessie and Woeltz were “business partners” in a current venture.

Woeltz, a crypto dealer with a private jet and chopper and worth in excess of $100 million, allegedly masterminded the sick scheme, which included pistol-whipping Carturan, cutting him with a chainsaw and urinating on him while they held him captive, sources said.

Police at the scene of the kidnapping in Soho on May 23, 2025. Paul Martinka
Woeltz’s assistant, Beatrice Folchi, was also arrested but released without being charged. Khristina narizhnaya/ny post

Carturan was taken to Bellevue Hospital for treatment after his rescue.

Woeltz was arraigned on kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, assault, and weapons possession charges on Saturday and is now being held without bail at Rikers Island.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Duplessie will be charged.

“We know he is going to be charged [along] with Mr. Woeltz, with kidnapping and false imprisonment of an associate in SoHo,” Tisch said on “Good Day New York” Tuesday morning.

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