Tourist kidnapped and beaten over cryptocurrency

John Woeltz, 37, was arrested and charged with kidnapping and torturing a 28-year-old businessman from Italy.

The accusation alleged the suspect locked his victim up for weeks in a Manhattan apartment, beating and seriously threatening him and his family.

Woeltz’s goal would have been to steal his victim’s cryptocurrency password.

The suspect was arrested by authorities after the victim managed to escape from the townhouse. The victim then obtained assistance from a local traffic officer.

The day after his arrest, Woeltz was charged with kidnapping, assault, unlawful imprisonment and possession of a firearm. He was sent behind bars with no possibility of release.

A certain Beatrice Folchi was also handcuffed, being implicated in the case. Apparently, several people were involved, in order to rob the target, including another man, whose identity was not disclosed.

The victim reportedly revealed that he had been tied up and tortured for several weeks on the premises, after being drugged, electrocuted, beaten, threatened and even… suspended.

Several items of evidence were allegedly found at the scene, including cocaine, a saw, a bulletproof vest, night-vision goggles and ammunition.