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NYPD places officers on modified duty amid SoHo crypto kidnapping investigation
By
Giulia Heyward
and
Phil Corso
Published May 29, 2025
Modified May 29, 2025
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Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
By
Giulia Heyward
and
Phil Corso
Published May 29, 2025
Modified May 29, 2025
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At least two NYPD officers have been placed on modified duty as part of an internal investigation into the kidnapping and torture of a man in SoHo, the department confirmed Thursday.
A police spokesperson said "members of the service were modified" on Wednesday, but declined to elaborate, saying only that the matter “is under internal review.”
One of the officers under investigation worked on Mayor Eric Adams’ security detail according to multiple reports, which the mayor confirmed in a television appearance Thursday night.
"Every city employee is expected to follow the law, including our officers, both on and off duty," said Adams' press secretary Kayla Mamelak Altus. "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."
Asked about the reports on FOX 5’s “The Six O’Clock News,” Adams said he had “no information on it” and emphasized that his security personnel’s private conduct is handled separately from their official duties.
“We don't know what they do in their private lives,” he said. “It has nothing to do with their professional capacity to make sure that I'm safe while I'm moving around the city.”
The development follows the surrender of William Duplessie, the second suspect in the case, who turned himself in to police Tuesday morning. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Police arrested John Woeltz, 37, earlier this month after his alleged victim escaped and alerted authorities. Prosecutors said Woeltz and Duplessie held the man captive for 17 days starting May 6, beating and shocking him in an attempt to access his Bitcoin account.
The pair also allegedly threatened to kill the man and his family, according to court documents.
A judge has ordered Woeltz to remain jailed without bail. His attorney did not immediately return a request for comment.
The case has drawn additional attention because of its cryptocurrency ties – a subject Adams has championed as part of his push to make New York City a hub for digital finance.
On Thursday, he defended a recent taxpayer-funded trip to a cryptocurrency summit in Las Vegas, calling Bitcoin “a great product” and arguing that the city needs to reclaim its place in the industry.
“We need this industry back in our city,” he said. “It's a multitrillion-dollar industry, and I want jobs here.”
This is a developing story and has been updated.
Tagged
Politics
manhattan
public safety
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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Phil Corso
Phil Corso is the evening news editor at WNYC/Gothamist. Got a tip? Email [email protected].
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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