NYC Crypto Kidnapping: Swiss Investor Sought in Soho Horror
A shocking crypto-related kidnapping case in New York City has captivated attention, involving the alleged torture and imprisonment of a 28-year-old Italian crypto investor, Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan. The victim, reportedly worth $30 million, was lured to a luxury Soho apartment under the guise of a business meeting with Joel Woeltz, dubbed the “crypto king of Kentucky.” The ordeal lasted 17 days, during which Carturan endured horrific abuse, including electrocution, being forced to consume crack cocaine, and threats of dismemberment with a chainsaw. A Polaroid photo found at the scene depicted Carturan bound and held at gunpoint. Woeltz, now charged with kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, and assault, is awaiting his next court appearance. His assistant, Beatrice Folchi, was briefly arrested but released without charges. Carturan’s eventual escape involved a daring ruse where he tricked Woeltz into allowing him to retrieve his laptop, containing his crucial crypto wallet seed phrase. He then fled barefoot to a nearby traffic officer. Adding to the complexity, a second suspect, an unnamed co-founder of a Swiss trading firm and associate of Woeltz, is expected to turn himself in, though reports conflict on whether this has already occurred. The investigation is ongoing, raising questions about the extent of the conspiracy and the potential for further arrests. This case highlights the dark side of the cryptocurrency world, where immense wealth can make individuals vulnerable to extreme criminal acts.
(Source: https://bitcoinist.com/nyc-crypto-horror-new-suspect-to-turn-himself-in-reports-say/)
