Two defendants, John Woeltz and William Duplessie, pleaded not guilty to charges of kidnapping and false imprisonment related to the abduction of Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan in New York City. During a hearing at the New York Supreme Criminal Court, both men were accused of torturing Carturan to gain access to his cryptocurrency wallet by inflicting electric shocks and beatings. Justice Gregory Carro ordered them to be held without bail, and if convicted, they could face life in prison. The kidnapping allegedly occurred over three weeks in a Soho apartment, during which Carturan managed to escape and notify the authorities. The case has been linked to a broader trend of violence against individuals associated with substantial cryptocurrency holdings. Additionally, two NYPD officers were placed on modified duties amid allegations of their involvement, though no charges had been filed against them as of the latest hearing.

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