Context:

The New York Police Department is conducting an investigation into two detectives, Roberto Cordero and Raymond J. Low, who were involved in providing security at a Manhattan townhouse linked to a kidnapping and torture case involving cryptocurrency investors. These detectives have been placed on modified duty as questions arise about their employment status and potential involvement in the crime. The townhouse served as the site where Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan was held captive by John Woeltz and William Duplessie, who demanded access to a Bitcoin wallet worth millions. Mr. Carturan managed to escape, leading to charges against the investors, while a woman involved was initially charged but later released. The backgrounds of both detectives include previous complaints regarding misconduct, adding complexity to the ongoing investigation and internal review by the department.

Dive Deeper:

• Roberto Cordero and Raymond J. Low, detectives with the NYPD, are under investigation for their role in providing security at a Manhattan townhouse where a man was allegedly kidnapped and tortured by cryptocurrency investors for three weeks.

• Detective Cordero, who has worked on Mayor Eric Adams’s security detail, was responsible for picking up the victim, Michael Valentino Teofrasto Carturan, from the airport and taking him to the townhouse where he was held captive.

• The two detectives have been placed on modified duty, which typically involves desk work, pending an internal review due to the sensitive nature of the investigation and the uncertainty regarding their employment status with a private security firm.

• The accused investors, John Woeltz and William Duplessie, are charged with kidnapping Mr. Carturan to obtain a password to a Bitcoin wallet containing millions, and Mr. Woeltz has been indicted, with his arraignment scheduled for June 11.

• Detective Cordero and Detective Low both have histories of complaints against them, including accusations of abuse of authority and use of physical force, which may complicate their current situation and the department’s internal review.

• Mr. Carturan, an Italian national, escaped from the townhouse on May 23, leading to the charges against the investors and raising questions about the detectives' involvement in the case.

• The investigation raises concerns about whether the detectives violated NYPD guidelines by possibly working for a private security company without departmental approval, as officers are generally prohibited from such employment.