NYPD Detectives Under Investigation in Shocking Crypto Torture Case

Two NYPD detectives, Roberto Cordero and Raymond J. Low, are under investigation for their involvement in a horrifying cryptocurrency torture case. The detectives provided security at a Manhattan townhouse where Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, an Italian man, was allegedly kidnapped and tortured for three weeks by John Woeltz and William Duplessie, two cryptocurrency investors.

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Detective Cordero's Role

Detective Cordero, who also served on Mayor Eric Adams’s security detail, is accused of picking up the victim from the airport and bringing him to the townhouse where he was held captive. Both detectives were placed on modified duty pending the investigation.

The Crime and the Investigation

The alleged torturers, Woeltz and Duplessie, demanded the password to a Bitcoin wallet containing millions of dollars. Woeltz has been indicted, while Beatrice Folchi, a 24-year-old woman also involved, had her prosecution deferred. The investigation is ongoing, and it remains unclear whether the detectives were present during the actual torture or were employed directly or through a private security company.

Past Complaints Against Detectives

Both detectives have faced prior complaints. Detective Cordero has several complaints alleging abuse of authority and excessive force, including a 2014 case settled in 2016 where he was accused of beating, strip-searching, and stealing from a man. Detective Low has also faced numerous complaints, including allegations of false statements and use of a chokehold.

Questions Remain

The investigation will examine the detectives' actions and whether they violated any departmental regulations. The case raises serious questions about the NYPD’s oversight of officers working in private security roles and the potential for conflicts of interest.