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Individuals behind Zima Digital Assets get arrested

Maria Nikolova

John Michael Caruso and Zachary Salter have been charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) today announces the arrest of two individuals behind cryptocurrency investment fund Zima Digital Assets.

John Michael Caruso, 28, of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Zachary Salter, 27, of Paradise Valley, Arizona, were both arrested on January 30, 2020, and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

The website of Zima Digital Assets says the firm “operates various private funds focusing on investments in cutting-edge technologies, including crypto and other blockchain based assets”.

The website also claims that “the principals at Zima Digital Assets have been investing in long and short cryptocurrency and blockchain technology strategies since 2012. Zima Digital Assets employ’s an array of exotic proprietary trading strategies, including but not limited to arbitrage opportunities, 80 long / 20 short, binary options positions, event-based trading in addition to leverage and margin application. Capacity constraint is a hallmark of our firm values”.

The US authorities stressed today that a criminal complaint is simply the method by which a person is charged with criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Those who believe they may have invested money with Caruso or Salter, or their alleged cryptocurrency investment fund, Zima Digital Assets, are advised to contact Special Agent Lamerson or Special Agent Roper at the U.S. Secret Service, Phoenix Field Office, via telephone at (602) 640-5580.

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