William Duplessie, 32, has been indicted on several charges including kidnapping and assault following an alleged plot to extort Bitcoin from an Italian crypto investor. Alongside co-defendant John Woeltz, 37, Duplessie is accused of holding the victim hostage for 17 days in a Soho townhouse, employing torture and threats to extract Bitcoin. The victim reportedly suffered electrical shocks, physical beatings, and was coerced to smoke cocaine. He managed to escape on May 23, disheveled and bloodied, seeking help from a street officer. Duplessie had requested bail but was denied due to the severity of the allegations. Woeltz, previously denied bail, claimed to possess a clean record and a successful technology career. A third accomplice, Beatrice Folchi, was also arrested. The case highlights a troubling trend of violent cryptocurrency-related crimes.

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