Crypto Torture Scandal: John Woeltz Held Tourist Hostage in NYC, Police Say (With Video)

Crypto-related criminal cases continue, and probably will. The crypto crime record is still long.

After the attempted kidnapping of the daughter of a crypto exchange CEO in Paris, France, news recently broke of the torture of an Italian trader who was in New York.

Crypto Torture Scandal: John Woeltz Held Tourist Hostage

In what has become one of the most disturbing crypto-related criminal cases of 2025, a 28-year-old Italian businessman arrived in New York City on April 18, 2025, expecting to discuss digital asset ventures with a man who called himself the "Crypto King of Kentucky", John Woeltz. Instead, he stepped into a nightmare.

Rather than finding opportunity, the tourist found himself trapped inside a luxurious SoHo apartment, where he would spend more than a month in captivity. John Woeltz, 37, orchestrated a calculated campaign of cruelty: allegedly confiscating the man’s passport, cutting off his communication, and subjecting him to repeated physical and psychological torture. 

The goal? To force him to surrender access to his Bitcoin wallet, believed to hold a significant fortune.

Behind Closed Doors: A Modern Form of Extortion

The abuse the victim endured was as brutal as it was calculated. Woeltz allegedly electrocuted him, beat him, and at times forced drugs upon him. 

Starved, bruised, and disoriented, the man was subjected to a relentless campaign meant to break his will and obtain the private credentials to his crypto holdings.

The backdrop of the torture, a multimillion-dollar SoHo residence, made the entire ordeal all the more surreal. 

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Woeltz allegedly took photos of the abuse, both to intimidate the victim and possibly to document submission. 

The contrast between high-end surroundings and horrific violence became symbolic of the dark underbelly of unchecked crypto greed.

Escape and Arrest

After 34 days in captivity, the victim managed to do what many thought impossible—he escaped. 

On the afternoon of May 21, 2025, he ran from the apartment and flagged down a traffic officer in the middle of Manhattan. 

Despite being weak and wounded, he managed to relay his story, triggering an urgent response from the NYPD.

By that evening, John Woeltz was in custody. Investigators searched the apartment and reportedly uncovered both physical evidence of abuse and digital devices that may contain further proof of attempted extortion.

A Legal Reckoning: What Awaits John Woeltz

After his arrest, John Woeltz now faces some of the most serious criminal charges in New York law. 

He is accused of kidnapping, torturing, and trying to steal cryptocurrency from an Italian tourist he lured to New York. The court has denied him bail, calling him a danger to the public and a flight risk.

The most serious charge is kidnapping in the first degree, which means holding someone against their will, especially with the intent to harm or extort them. If found guilty, Woeltz could face 15 to 25 years to life in prison just for this crime alone.

He is also charged with assault, because the victim suffered serious injuries during the weeks-long captivity. For this, Woeltz could get up to 25 more years.

Another charge is coercion, since Woeltz allegedly tried to force the victim to give up his Bitcoin password through threats and torture. That could lead to several more years in prison.

Because the attempted theft involved cryptocurrency likely worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, Woeltz is also being charged with grand larceny. Even though he didn’t successfully steal the money, the attempt is still a felony, punishable by up to 15 years.

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Altogether, if convicted of all charges, Woeltz could be sentenced to more than 30 years to life in prison.

Prosecutors may also add federal charges, especially if they find evidence that Woeltz used online tools or crossed state lines to carry out the crime. That could lead to even more jail time.

The case is still under investigation, and a second suspect is expected to turn himself in. But for now, Woeltz is facing a future behind bars, with a legal system preparing to hold him accountable for a crime that shocked even veteran detectives.

A Cautionary Tale in the Crypto Age

This case highlights a new form of threat in the digital age, where fortunes stored on blockchain can lead to real-world violence. 

Unlike bank accounts, crypto wallets depend entirely on private access keys. For criminals like Woeltz, the temptation to obtain such keys through force reveals just how fragile safety can become when digital wealth intersects with human greed.

The victim, whose identity remains protected, survived an ordeal that reads like a crime thriller, but tragically, it was real. 

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His escape brought down a man who had built a reputation in crypto circles, and in doing so, exposed a chilling reminder: when digital gold replaces trust, violence may follow.

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FAQ

1. Who is John Woeltz and why was he arrested?

John Woeltz, known as the "Crypto King of Kentucky," was arrested in May 2025 in New York City for allegedly kidnapping and torturing an Italian tourist to obtain access to his Bitcoin wallet.

2. What are the charges against John Woeltz?

He faces multiple felony charges, including kidnapping in the first degree, assault, coercion, unlawful imprisonment, and grand larceny related to an attempted crypto theft.

3. What was the motive behind the crypto kidnapping case?

Prosecutors say Woeltz tortured the victim in an attempt to force him to reveal the password to a Bitcoin wallet, believed to contain a significant amount of cryptocurrency.

4. What is the potential punishment for John Woeltz?

If convicted on all charges, Woeltz could face over 30 years to life in prison, with the possibility of additional federal charges depending on the evidence.

5. Did the victim survive and escape the kidnapping?

Yes. After being held for more than a month, the victim escaped on May 21, 2025, and sought help from a traffic officer in Manhattan, which led to Woeltz’s arrest.