Crypto investor allegedly tortured captive Italian tourist for weeks in luxe NYC apartment: sources
The victim, 28, broke out of the SoHo house of horrors Friday morning and immediately ran over to a police officer and told them he'd been held captive for more than two weeks, according to the sources.
John Woeltz, 37, was taken into custody and is expected to be charged with assault, the sources said.
4 Cryptocurrency investor John Woeltz was taken into custody and is expected to be charged with assault after an Italian tourist had apparently been tied up inside a ritzy apartment, according to cops.
Paul Martinka
4 Sources say the victim broke out of the SoHo house and immediately ran over to a police officer.
Paul Martinka
Two other people believed to be employed by Woeltz, a crypto entrepreneur and investor, were waiting to be interviewed by police, sources said.
Woeltz and the victim apparently knew each other from previous business dealings, the sources said.
The tourist arrived in New York City from Italy on May 6 and went to the luxurious apartment — but when he arrived, the suspect snatched his passport and tied him up, sources said.
After speaking with the victim, police searched the posh pad and discovered multiple torture items in plain sight.
4 The inside of the SOHO house.
Paul Martinka
4 Police at the 5th Precinct investigate the alleged torture incident at 38 Prince Street in SOHO.
Paul Martinka
Officers also found polaroid photographs showing the victim being tied up and tortured as well as a gun, the sources said.
The department's emergency service unit searched the premises to make sure their were no other torture victims, sources said.
The eight-bedroom apartment in one of the city's most desirable neighborhoods rents for $30,000 to $40,000 per month.
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