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The crypto bros who allegedly tortured an Italian millionaire for his Bitcoin password also held two other victims “against their will,” prosecutors revealed Wednesday – along with shocking new details about the Soho house of horrors.

John Woeltz, 37, and William Duplessie, 33, pleaded not guilty to kidnapping charges in a dramatic Manhattan Supreme Court arraignment filled with bombshell revelations – including a graphic photo allegedly showing the pair sadistically setting their Italian captive on fire.

The twisted duo allegedly held the victim, cryptocurrency trader Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, captive for nearly three weeks in their rented Prince Street townhouse.


  John Woeltz (pictured), 37, and William Duplessie, 33, pleaded not guilty to kidnapping charges Wednesday. Steven Hirsch John Woeltz (pictured), 37, and William Duplessie, 33, pleaded not guilty to kidnapping charges Wednesday. Steven Hirsch

But Assistant District Attorney Sarah Khan revealed that Woeltz and Duplessie had allegedly previously held two other people from two different locations “against their will” before allegedly kidnapping Carturan last month.

“This is not in fact the first time that these defendants engaged in conduct that constitutes similar crimes, meaning people being held against their will,” Khan said.

No details about the other alleged kidnappings were disclosed during the hearing, but prosecutors noted they were in touch with other law enforcement agencies, seemingly outside of New York City, about the two cases.


  They allegedly kidnapped and tortured an Italian businessman for over two weeks in his luxury apartment at 38 Prince Street in SoHo, New York. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post They allegedly kidnapped and tortured an Italian businessman for over two weeks in his luxury apartment at 38 Prince Street in SoHo, New York. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post

The ADA also unveiled new shocking accusations about 28-year-old Carturan’s harrowing experiences.

No details about the other alleged kidnappings were disclosed during the hearing, but prosecutors did unveil new accusations about Carturan’s harrowing experiences.

At one point, Woeltz and Duplessie allegedly poured tequila over Carturan, lit him aflame and doused the blaze by urinating on him, the prosecutor said, describing a photo.


  Woeltz and Duplessie (pictured) are accused of holding Italian crypto trader at a swanky Soho townhouse against his will for weeks. Steven Hirsch Woeltz and Duplessie (pictured) are accused of holding Italian crypto trader at a swanky Soho townhouse against his will for weeks. Steven Hirsch

“He luckily doesn’t have burn injuries,” Khan said about Carturan, who escaped May 23 after his alleged weeks-long ordeal.

“Our information is that the defendants would pour tequila on him, light him on fire and they would put the fire out. Sometimes by urinating on him.”

But Duplessie’s defense attorney, Sanford Talkin, who fumed against the supposed “false” narrative that Carturan was tortured and held captive.


  At one point, Woeltz and Duplessie allegedly poured tequila over Carturan, lit him aflame and doused the blaze by urinating on him. Steven Hirsch At one point, Woeltz and Duplessie allegedly poured tequila over Carturan, lit him aflame and doused the blaze by urinating on him. Steven Hirsch

Talkin pointed to videos apparently showing Carturan “smoking crack, having the time of his life, laughing, being involved in sex orgies, being dragged by a woman around while he is naked inside this location.”

Carturan was also spotted strolling with dog walkers and even laughing and smoking a cigarette outside a shop where Duplessie was buying eyeglasses — all while police said he was held captive, Talkin claimed.

“He had the ability to run or leave or go wherever he wanted,” Talkin told the judge. “He had the ability of hundreds of people to say, ‘Hey, I’m being tortured, hey, I’m being kidnapped.’ He didn’t do it because that wasn’t the case.

“This story that he is selling just doesn’t make sense.”


  The crypto bros’ alleged kidnap victim seen on surveillance footage after escaping. WNBC The crypto bros’ alleged kidnap victim seen on surveillance footage after escaping. WNBC

Both Talkin and Woeltz’s defense attorney, Wayne Gosnell, tried to get the judge to grant bail for the crypto moguls, but failed after Khan argued the videos were leaked with a “motive to put forward an edited version of the events that occurred here.”

Khan presented the burning tequila picture to rebut the accusations that Carturan was hedonistically living it up in the SoHo house – and argued the crypto pair had staged photo shoots to give the impression he wasn’t being held captive. 

“Victims of abuse are not always going to act in the way we expect them to do,” she said. 


  William Duplessie arraigned in Manhattan Supreme court for tortuing an individual. Steven Hirsch William Duplessie arraigned in Manhattan Supreme court for tortuing an individual. Steven Hirsch

“He was at times tortured during this period. One of the things they did to him to inflict pain – they pistol whipped him with a gun. They cut him with a small chainsaw.” 

Judge Gregory Carro said he could revisit his decision to deny bail during the next hearing on July 15. 

The courtroom drama unfolded a day after federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents raided a home in Smithland, Kentucky – where Woeltz hails from – as part of a joint probe with the NYPD.


  Judge Gregory Carro said he could revisit his decision to deny bail during the next hearing on July 15. Michael Nagle Judge Gregory Carro said he could revisit his decision to deny bail during the next hearing on July 15. Michael Nagle

Sources said a gun found in the SoHo home was traced to Kentucky, leading to a search warrant. 

ATF agents, along with Kentucky State Police officers, seized $60,000 in cash, as well as rifles, handguns and ammunition from the guest house and cabin, source said.

– Additional reporting by Joe Marino and Kyle Schnitzer

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