Two NYPD officers placed on leave after allegedly helping crypto bros kidnap and torture a man for his Bitcoin password—and one was part of Mayor Adams’ security detail.
At a Glance
- Two NYPD detectives, including one on Mayor Adams’ security team, are under investigation for ties to a crypto-fueled kidnapping.
- The detectives allegedly assisted crypto entrepreneurs who kidnapped and tortured a man for his Bitcoin credentials.
- The victim was held for nearly three weeks, enduring beatings, electric shocks, and forced drug use.
- One detective reportedly drove the victim to the torture site; both were allegedly paid by the suspects.
- Both officers have been placed on modified duty pending investigation.
Cops by Day, Crypto Goons by Night?
Two NYPD detectives have been placed on administrative leave for allegedly aiding a violent cryptocurrency-related abduction. One of the officers served on Mayor Eric Adams’ personal security detail. The pair are accused of moonlighting as private security for John Woeltz and William Duplessie—crypto entrepreneurs now facing charges for kidnapping a former business associate and torturing him for his Bitcoin password.
Watch a report: Crypto Kidnapping Shocks NYC.
Investigators believe one detective physically transported the victim to the captivity site, while the other had financial ties to the suspects. Both allegedly acted outside their duties, in a gross violation of their public trust.
Bitcoin, Beatings, and Badge-Wearing Accomplices
The victim, an Italian Bitcoin millionaire, was lured to New York under false pretenses. What followed was a harrowing ordeal: he was beaten, electrocuted, urinated on, and forced to smoke crack cocaine during nearly three weeks of captivity. The goal? Extract his digital fortune by any means necessary.
A City Hall spokesperson stated, “Every city employee is expected to follow the law, including our officers, both on and off duty.” The victim escaped after pretending to comply, exploiting a brief opportunity when one captor left to retrieve a laptop.
Systemic Rot or Isolated Scandal?
Though officials insist the officers were immediately removed from active duty, critics say the scandal underscores systemic issues. “We are disturbed by these allegations,” said a police spokesperson. Yet the NYPD has not disclosed the officers’ names—a level of anonymity unlikely for any civilian under similar suspicion.
Mayor Adams claims ignorance of the conduct of his security officer. But for a scandal that blends corruption, crypto, and brutal violence, mere ignorance may not be a sufficient defense. As the investigation unfolds, the incident raises broader questions about oversight, accountability, and just how deep corruption runs in New York’s police ranks.
