Authorities have accused a New York City detective, assigned to Mayor Eric Adams‘ security detail, of driving an Italian Bitcoin millionaire to a house where kidnappers later tortured him for several days. Multiple law enforcement agencies told CNN the detective picked up the victim at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Investigators told The New York Post and Rolling Stone that it’s unclear if the detective knew he was driving the victim, Michael Valentino Teofastro Carturan, to his would-be kidnappers. Authorities said the alleged kidnappers abducted the millionaire on May 6.
Disciplinary action
Officials said investigators linked two New York Police Department detectives to the crime. Authorities are currently questioning the detective who allegedly drove the crypto millionaire to his captors. NYPD officials said they’ve stripped the detectives of their guns and badges and placed them on “modified” duty as the investigation continues.
The detective who allegedly drove Carturan to the town house works private security in addition to his job working alongside Adams, according to The Associated Press.
Adam’s statement
Mayor Adams’ office responded after the story came to light. Officials said the allegations shook them.
“Every city employee is expected to follow the law, including our officers, both on and off duty,” they said in a statement. “We are disturbed by these allegations, and as soon as it came to our attention, the officers were placed on modified duty. The investigation is ongoing.”
Who did authorities charge in the case?
Prosecutors charged two men — John Woeltz, 37, and William Duplessie, 33 — in the plot. Authorities said the pair orchestrated the violent scheme aimed at obtaining the 28-year-old Italian millionaire crypto trader’s Bitcoin password. Both Woeltz and Duplessie pleaded not guilty to the kidnapping and torture plot.
Officials told New York’s WABC that the detectives had no knowledge of the alleged criminal activity at the town house. Adams’ office informed the news station that the mayor was unaware of any involvement of a member of his security detail in potential criminal activity.
What happened?
Prosecutors said that the two men tortured the victim for more than two weeks, threatened his life and held him over a railing if he didn’t reveal his Bitcoin password. After he refused, investigators said the suspects beat, shocked and pistol-whipped Carturan. They also claimed that they bound Carturan’s wrists and drugged him.
WABC reports that investigators believe the men tricked the victim into coming to the house by threatening to kill his family if he did not provide the information they sought.
How did the victim escape?
After enduring 17 days of torture, Carturan escaped his captors on May 23 while they were distracted. Days later, on May 27, Woeltz and Duplessie surrendered to authorities. Both men are now awaiting indictments in relation to the torture and kidnapping case.
Prosecutors said investigators found a saw, crack cocaine, pictures of the victim with a gun pointed toward his head and T-shirts with photos of him, as well as ammunition and blood inside the town house.
