Accused NYC crypto bro kidnappers granted $1M bail — but judge warns they can’t pay in Bitcoin

The pair of crypto bros accused of kidnapping and torturing an Italian millionaire wrote a “manifesto” detailing plans to steal foreigners’ cryptocurrency before carrying out the sadistic scheme, prosecutors revealed Wednesday.

The shocking accusation arose in a dramatic Manhattan Supreme Court hearing for John Woeltz, 37, and William Duplessie, 33, which ended with a judge granting them $1 million bail each – with the stipulation they couldn’t pay in cryptocurrency.

Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Sarah Khan unsuccessfully pushed to keep the duo behind bars pending trial, arguing their alleged torture of Italian crypto trader Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan was part of a grander sick plan.

“The federal authorities searched Woeltz’s Kentucky cabin, they found a manifesto where the defendants wrote out a plan to steal foreigners crypto currency,” Khan said.

“They wrote, ‘we will take crypto and bitcoin from evil people that are using it to fund terrorism… It is our belief that people need to use their coin.”

But Justice Gregory Carro ultimately set the seven-figure bail after the bros’ lawyers argued the sordid affair was akin to “fraternity-like hazing.”

“This wasn’t torture, the house was like a long running frat party,” said Wayne Gosnell, who represents Woeltz. “Mr. Carturan was there in the role of a pledge. He was essentially pledging and being hazed.”

The dueling manifesto-versus-hazing accounts add yet another wrinkle to a situation that burst into view May 23, when Carturan ran barefoot from a SoHo townhouse and allegedly told a police officer he’d been held captive inside for weeks.

Prosecutors later alleged that the hard-partying Woeltz and Duplessie tortured Carturan for his Bitcoin password, including lighting him on fire and cutting him with a chainsaw. 

But defense lawyers tried to cast the outrageous alleged torture tactics– some of which was captured on video and photo – as part of a twisted, but still consensual party atmosphere.

Gosnell and Duplessie’s lawyer, Sanford Talkin, contended in court Wednesday that Carturan willingly engaged in orgies, took drugs and drank alcohol.

Text messages show Duplessie and Woeltz referred to the sexually charged situation in a joking manner, including by giving Carturan nicknames for being well-endowed, Gosnell said.

“Not because it was pejorative, but because of the particular size of his penis,” Gosnell claimed.

Talkin argued that police body cam footage showed Carturan claiming he was being hazed.

“It was all laughs,” Talkin insisted.

But the prosecutor dismissed any suggestion that Carturan wasn’t being tortured.

“The victim himself describes the things he went through as torture, even though at some times if he thought it was hazing, because he was told it was,”  Khan told the judge. “The conduct doesn’t actually mean it was hazing.”

The alleged crypto creeps sent texts talking about how Carturan was broken, sobbing and “there’s no more life in his eyes,” she said. 

“There’s a chainsaw, cattle prod, collar with an AirTag, tarps, buckets, that the defendants told (Carturan) they would use to dispose of a body,” Khan said. 

“They use pressure, deceit, monitoring, drugs, violence, sex, their conduct is intended to keep the victim off balance.” 

Khan, who previously alleged that Woeltz and Duplessie had held two other victims “against their will,” provided no other details on the supposed manifesto.

The pair has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping charges.

Both Woeltz and Duplessie will be released from jail to home confinement if they can shell out the cold hard non-digital cash, said Carro.

Woelz is looking for a place in New York, his lawyer said. Duplessie will seek a place in Florida.