Shocking new video captures the moment an Italian crypto millionaire escaped his captors after police said he was brutally tortured inside a posh SoHo townhouse.
The footage, obtained by NBC New York, shows battered bitcoin trader Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan shoeless and distressed as he runs up to an NYPD traffic cop Friday after fleeing the Prince Street house of horrors – where he was allegedly held and brutalized for his crypto password, authorities said.
Cops have charged Kentucky crypto king John Woeltz with kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, assault and weapons possession in the shocking case.
On Tuesday, bitcoin trader William Duplessie surrendered to police for questioning after being identified as a person of interest.
Woeltz’s assistant, Italian beauty Beatrice Folchi, was arrested Friday but released after Manhattan prosecutors declined to prosecute pending further investigation.
According to a police report, the suspects beat the victim, threatened him with weapons, and used various forms of physical and psychological torture in an effort to extract the private keys to his crypto wallet. Investigators believe the attackers were targeting digital assets worth hundreds of thousands — possibly millions — of dollars.
“The suspects were extremely calculated. They knew exactly what they were after,” said an NYPD source who asked to remain anonymous. “This wasn’t a random act — it was a targeted assault on someone believed to have access to high-value cryptocurrency.”
The victim reportedly managed to escape after loosening his restraints and fleeing through a back entrance while one of his captors briefly left the room. From there, he ran several blocks until he encountered the police officer captured in the viral video.
The case highlights a disturbing trend in cryptocurrency-related crimes, where tech-savvy individuals are being physically targeted for their digital wealth. Unlike traditional bank accounts, crypto wallets are often secured by private keys that, if compromised, allow anyone to take complete control of the assets — and these transactions are typically irreversible.
“We’re seeing a rise in real-world violence tied to virtual assets,” said cybersecurity expert Darren Lawson. “Hackers have realized that if they can’t breach systems digitally, they can target people physically — and that’s far more dangerous.”
Lawson added that individuals involved in high-value crypto transactions should take precautions similar to those taken by people in high-risk professions, including private security measures, pseudonymous online activity, and secure meeting protocols.
The NYPD has confirmed the incident and stated that the victim is now under protective custody and receiving medical treatment. Detectives are actively investigating leads, including surveillance footage, forensic evidence from the scene, and digital communications between the victim and his alleged attackers.
So far, no arrests have been made, but law enforcement officials say they are “pursuing multiple suspects” and expect charges to follow shortly. The FBI has also been notified due to the financial nature of the crime and potential interstate implications.
News of the escape and the disturbing video has rattled the tech and crypto communities in New York, where many investors and developers live and work. Some expressed concern that such incidents could have a chilling effect on innovation and public trust in decentralized finance.
“This should be a wake-up call for everyone in the crypto space,” said Mariana Torres, a blockchain startup founder based in Brooklyn. “If people are being kidnapped for their wallets, it’s time to take physical security as seriously as cybersecurity.”
What’s Next?
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the suspects or the incident to come forward. Meanwhile, the victim is cooperating with investigators and working to secure any remaining assets.
As the investigation continues, the NYPD is reminding residents to use extreme caution when engaging in high-value financial deals, particularly those arranged online or in informal settings.
“Digital assets might live in the cloud,” said the NYPD spokesperson, “but the danger is very real — right here on the ground.”
