The recent kidnapping and extortion attempt of an Italian tourist in New York City has taken a new turn as a third individual, identified as 33-year-old William Duplessie, surrendered to law enforcement on May 27. Duplessie, who was taken into custody by the New York Police Department (NYPD), is set to face charges of "kidnapping and false imprisonment of an associate," according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the crypto community, as it is part of a series of kidnappings and ransom attempts targeting crypto investors and their loved ones. This alarming trend has prompted increased security measures from investors and industry executives to protect themselves and their assets.

Reports from The New York Times indicate that both Duplessie and another suspect, crypto investor John Woeltz, who was previously arrested in connection with the case, had ties to an NYC-based crypto hedge fund. Duplessie negotiated his surrender with the NYPD in the days leading up to his arrest.

The victim at the center of the case is 28-year-old Italian tourist Michael Valentino Teofrasto, who was kidnapped in Manhattan and held captive for weeks before managing to escape and seek help from law enforcement. Teofrasto recounted a harrowing ordeal where he was bound, drugged, physically beaten, shocked with a Taser, and threatened in an attempt to extract his crypto private keys.

The tourist was held captive in a luxury townhome in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan before making a daring escape and flagging down a police officer to report the kidnapping. Following Teofrasto's report, the NYPD arrested crypto investor John Woeltz, who has been charged with kidnapping for ransom and multiple felony counts.

Woeltz is currently in custody without bail pending trial and is expected to appear in court for a further hearing on May 28. The case has drawn attention to the risks faced by crypto investors and the need for heightened security measures in the industry.

As the investigation into the kidnapping and extortion case continues, law enforcement authorities are working to apprehend all individuals involved and bring them to justice. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding personal information and assets in the crypto space, especially in light of criminal activities targeting individuals in the industry.

Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/third-suspect-arrested-in-nyc-crypto-torture-case?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound