NYPD Detectives Suspended in SoHo Crypto Torture Case

Two NYPD detectives have been placed on modified duty following their alleged connection to a disturbing SoHo townhouse where an Italian businessman was kidnapped, tortured, and held captive for weeks. The victim was allegedly lured to the townhouse under threat to his family.

The Case:

• The Victim: An Italian businessman was allegedly held captive for 17 days, enduring severe beatings, drugging, electric shocks, and even being dangled from a five-story staircase.
• The Accused: John Woeltz, a 37-year-old cryptocurrency investor, was indicted on kidnapping and torture charges. His alleged accomplice, William Duplessie, surrendered to police. Woeltz's bail request was denied.
• The Townhouse: The luxury Manhattan townhouse where the crime occurred yielded evidence including cocaine, a saw, chicken wire, body armor, night vision goggles, ammunition, and Polaroid photos of the victim with a gun pointed at his head.

The Detectives' Involvement:

One off-duty detective, a 20-year veteran assigned to the mayor's Executive Protection Unit, drove the victim from the airport to the townhouse. A second detective also allegedly received off-duty security payments from one of the crypto suspects. The Internal Affairs Bureau is investigating whether their employment was properly approved. The Mayor's office released a statement emphasizing that every city employee is expected to follow the law.

The Investigation:

The Internal Affairs investigation is ongoing and aims to determine the extent of the detectives' involvement with the suspects and whether any department policies were violated. The detectives claim to have been unaware of any illegal activity at the townhouse, and the mayor reportedly had no prior connection to the suspects.

This case highlights a disturbing intersection of cryptocurrency, kidnapping, torture, and alleged NYPD misconduct. The investigation is expected to reveal more details about the extent of the alleged crimes and any potential complicity of the NYPD officers involved.