Poker-Faced in the Big Apple: William Duplessie’s Crypto Torture Perp Walk
High-octane coffee jitters aside, I’ve got to spill this: William Duplessie—yep, the alleged crypto torturer—strolled into Manhattan Criminal Court on May 27 looking cooler than my iced latte, and I have ALL the caffeinated details. The 38-year-old co-founder of TerraBlock Exchange pleaded not guilty to charges that he threatened to torture a former business partner over a $5 million crypto transfer, according to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office (as reported by Reuters and CNN). He rocked a charcoal-gray suit, crisp white shirt, and—would you believe it?—no hint of nerves in his steely gaze. I mean, come on.
Court docs allege Duplessie used encrypted messages to intimidate one victim into handing over digital coins, then followed through with brutal assaults when deadlines came and went (New York Post has the receipts on those alleged torture devices). Prosecutors say he orchestrated this scheme from his Tribeca loft, boasting about “breaking bones” if his demands weren’t met—shivers! His defense attorney insists these are “baseless accusations” and that Duplessie’s just a tech entrepreneur who got caught up in a digital nightmare (People Magazine caught that quote). The judge set bail at $250,000—cash only, no crypto shenanigans.
Let’s not gloss over the visual: cameras flashing, press yelling questions, Duplessie as still as a statue. Even TMZ noted that poker-faced moment when he walked past the gaggle of reporters without so much as a flinch. Side note: his followers on TerraBlock’s Twitter account had *thought* he was some kind of blockchain hero—now they’re eating popcorn over this legal soap opera. His next hearing? Scheduled for June 14, and trust me, I’ll have triple shots of espresso ready for that live feed.
What’s wild is how this case underscores the darker side of crypto—when digital fortunes turn into real-world dystopia. Law enforcement sources told CNN investigators are tracing offshore wallets and seeking cooperation from international exchanges. And don’t forget, Duplessie’s case could set a precedent: can you really torture someone for coins and hide behind blockchain? The legal world is buzzing.
I need to catch my breath (and maybe another espresso), but this story is boiling hotter than my coffee mug. Stay tuned, because if you think his poker face cracked today, wait until the witnesses take the stand. I swear, my heart’s racing and I could chatter about this all day.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and Reuters, CNN, New York Post, People Magazine
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
