U.S. virtual currency investor imprisoned a foreign man in a luxury apartment in Manhattan, tortured him to get Bitcoin wallet password

The Associated Press reported that a U.S. virtual currency investor in his 30s imprisoned a foreign man in a luxury apartment in Manhattan

A U.S. virtual currency investor in his 30s imprisoned a foreign man in a luxury apartment in Manhattan, New York, for more than two weeks and tortured him to give out the password of his Bitcoin electronic wallet, an official said on Monday.

The Manhattan District Prosecutors' Office in New York has arrested John Waltz, 37, a cryptocurrency investor, on charges of kidnapping, assault, unlawful imprisonment and fourth-degree possession of a firearm.

Prosecutors said Waltz met the victim, A, 28, an Italian national, at a bar in December and later invited him to his apartment in Manhattan.

On December 6, Waltz is accused of locking A in the apartment and demanding that he hand over the password of his Bitcoin wallet.

When A refused, Waltz assaulted and tortured him, threatening to administer drugs, administer electric shock torture and to have a group of accomplices - who are currently being tracked by investigators - come to the apartment and tell the password of A's Bitcoin electronic wallet.

Waltz also threatened A's family, saying it would be dangerous and that he would kill them while hanging from the railing of the stairs.

A, who came to fear for his life, told Waltz that his password was stored on his laptop in another room.

As Waltz turned his back to get his laptop, A managed to escape from the apartment and ran outside, where he was able to flag down a traffic police officer on a nearby street.

The officer contacted the New York Police Department, which arrived at the scene and arrested Waltz.

A is currently being treated at the hospital.