A man implicated in the brutal torment of an Italian billionaire in a Manhattan townhouse quickly revealed his accomplice’s name after his arrest, according to newly released court documents.
After police found John Wots, who was barefoot and dressed in a bathrobe, in a luxurious SoHo apartment on May 23, he asked about his partner, William Dupressy, eager to know who his lawyer was.
“My partner is William Dupressy. We have a lawyer, but I don’t know them,” the 37-year-old told a detective during questioning at the 5th District in Chinatown.
Wots, who mentioned that he and Dupressy shared a home, confirmed that Dupressy wasn’t present that morning. This information was revealed in court filings.
Interestingly, Wots declined an offer of free pizza from the officers and instead bragged about having a “detective friend.” His frustration increased as he repeatedly requested to contact his lawyer.
“I love the lawyer, the phone, or something, but there’s no pizza,” Wots told Detective Scott Gomez around 3:02 PM. He expressed confusion about the reason for his arrest, saying, “I want to understand why I’m here. I was here for hours. I couldn’t call my lawyer or detective friends. No one could call me.”
Just minutes later, he mentioned Dupressy’s name again while continuing to ask for legal representation, ultimately seeking to speak with his mother.
“Can I make a call? You can call mom, and she can write it down,” he pleaded.
The police had responded to a traffic officer’s report that an Italian crypto billionaire was fleeing from the suspect’s residence, having been tortured for his Bitcoin wallet password.
Upon visiting the upscale apartment, reportedly rented for about $30,000 a month, officers found multiple Polaroid photographs depicting individuals bound with electric wires.
Wots expressed his bewilderment about the situation, telling police, “I don’t know what everyone here caused, but I know it’s terrible.” He claimed he was working in cybersecurity and had been sleeping when the police burst in.
“I was sleeping with my brother,” he added.
Four days later, Dupressy was arrested. His initial response to the detective instructing him to enter a cell was, “Yes, sir. Can I have a cigarette?” Following that, he became silent with the police.
A judge in Manhattan set bail for both Wots and Dupressy at $1 million after their attorney attempted to downplay the severity of the alleged torture. “This wasn’t torture. The house was like a long-running party,” Wots’s lawyer, Wayne Gosnell, argued in court.
Wots was released from Rikers Island two months later, placed under house arrest, while Dupressy remained in custody.
The lawyers for both men declined to comment on the matter. They are expected to return to court on October 15th.
