William Duplessie grew up in one of America’s wealthiest zip codes, but his life took a dark turn that ended in violent crime and one of the most disturbing cases in the crypto world.
The son of an investment manager specializing in distressed debt, Duplessie spent his childhood in Greenwich, Connecticut neighbors with billionaire Ray Dalio. But privilege didn’t translate to stability. By his late teens, his life was spiraling: drugs, violence, and impulsive decisions had become the norm. After allegedly stabbing a drug dealer, he dropped out of his private high school, only for his father to send him to China in a bid to straighten him out.
College proved no better. He left Bard after a year of heavy partying, then dropped out of Tulane amid rumors of gang ties and drug abuse.
The Crypto Pivot and the Big Scam
In 2018, Duplessie turned to crypto, trying to reinvent himself. With his father’s income dwindling, the two moved to Switzerland, hoping to attract investors into their fund by flaunting a lavish lifestyle.
It worked at first. Roger Ver, “Bitcoin Jesus” himself, invested $2 million. That helped them secure another $20 million from Swiss asset manager Copernicus. By some accounts, they raised over $100 million, spending freely on luxury living. But by 2020, the scheme collapsed, and they fled Switzerland.
Paranoia, Weapons, and a Disturbing Plan
By 2024, Duplessie had befriended John Woeltz, a reclusive multimillionaire and early Bitcoin miner. Woeltz’s obsession with security and self-sufficiency fed into Duplessie’s growing paranoia. Their parties became increasingly bizarre fueled by cocaine, stocked with AR-15s, ammo, and night-vision goggles.
The two even drafted a manifesto. The goal? Befriend wealthy crypto investors, investigate them, and steal their holdings. They justified it with conspiracy theories about “evil foreigners” infiltrating America.
One of their targets was Michael Carturan, an Italian programmer with $30 million in crypto. Lured with promises of a business venture and high-end partying in their $75,000-a-month Nolita townhouse, Carturan soon found himself in a nightmare.
Torture in Plain Sight
The “parties” turned violent. Carturan was whipped, shocked with a cattle prod, and burned all to force him to hand over his crypto keys. Disturbingly, much of the abuse happened in front of guests, many of them young women gifted expensive items to keep them close.
While some thought the hazing was just twisted fun, others later described Carturan as “broken.” On May 22, he escaped barefoot and bloodied, flagging down a traffic cop and telling his story.
Now, Duplessie and Woeltz are facing trial their fall from privilege complete, their party lifestyle replaced by the cold reality of criminal charges.
