Two men, John Woeltz and William Duplessie, arrested on charges of kidnapping, assault, and unlawful imprisonment, have been linked to a disturbing episode involving the forced extraction of a Bitcoin wallet password valued at an estimated $30 million. The victim, Italian tourist Teofrasto Carturan, was reportedly hung off a roof ledge, shocked with electrical wires, and attacked with a chainsaw by the accused.
Woeltz and Duplessie leveraged connections with former club promoter Charlie Zakkour to infiltrate Manhattan's elite nightlife venues. Sources including two women who socialized with the suspects revealed details of their extravagant and illicit lifestyle. One woman recounted how Zakkour boasted about wealthy cryptocurrency investors staying at the Mercer Hotel, planning to spend $30,000 in a high-end lounge named Paul's Baby Grand.
During one gathering, Woeltz openly displayed a freezer bag filled with cocaine, spreading its contents on a metal tray. The quantity reportedly eclipsed the cost of a typical college tuition. Another woman described an exclusive party held in Woeltz's rented Soho townhouse, where stringent security and upscale offerings like Don Julio 1942 tequila and Grey Goose vodka were prevalent.
Despite the luxurious setting, guests noted a stark absence of social warmth, with one woman remarking on the cold demeanor and feeling objectified by the patrons. Multiple sources expressed growing suspicions about the men’s activities and intentions, ultimately distancing themselves. Nevertheless, Woeltz and Duplessie's influence had already secured them access to prominent nightclubs such as Nebula, Hearsay, and The Box.
This case highlights the dark intersections of cryptocurrency wealth, organized crime, and the nightlife industry in New York City, raising concerns about security and legality within exclusive social circles.
