Cicton Brother Released After Two Months in Jail

One of the Cicton brothers, who faces charges related to the harassment of an Italian billionaire in Manhattan, was released on bail after spending two months in jail.

John Watts, 37, was let go from Rikers Island recently after a Manhattan judge approved his release on a $1 million bond. This came just a week after another judge granted bail for his accomplice, 33-year-old William Dupressy, who is also accused of torturing Italian crypto merchant Michael Valentino Theophlastro Cartoulan.

Watts had been in custody since his arrest on May 23, following claims from prosecutors that he had tortured Cartoulan to extract his Bitcoin password.

Judge Gregory Caro of Manhattan’s Supreme Court approved the bail on July 23, after the lawyers argued that the alleged torturous methods were akin to “fraternity-like hazing.”

The judge, in an unusual plea, agreed to release the pair.

Watts’ bond was secured by celebrity bail bondsman Ira Judelson, who made an appearance just before the court session on Thursday.

During the hearing, Watts, who wore a prison jumpsuit, was placed under home confinement with electronic monitoring, and the judge emphasized the necessity of keeping the surveillance device charged. “If it doesn’t stay charged, you won’t be part of the program anymore,” Caro cautioned.

Meanwhile, Dupressy, who resides in Miami, was not released and has a court date set for October 15.

Authorities allege that the two men tortured Cartoulan, with Watts reportedly threatening the victim’s family in Italy. However, Watts’ lawyer, Wayne Gosnell, dismissed the torture allegations, suggesting that Cartoulan was merely in a “pledge” situation.

This case continues to draw attention as details emerge about the interactions between the accused and the victim.