Tech Consultant Convicted of Murder in Stabbing Death of Cash App Creator Bob Lee

SAN FRANCISCO—A jury in San Francisco on Tuesday convicted tech consultant Nima Momeni of second-degree murder for the stabbing death of Bob Lee, the founder of Cash App. The verdict implies a potential sentence ranging from 16 years to life in prison, as the jury dismissed the defendant’s self-defense argument.

After seven days of deliberation, jurors reached a decision concerning Momeni’s involvement in the killing of Lee, a highly regarded figure in the tech world, who was discovered injured and calling for help on a vacant street on April 4, 2023. Lee, aged 43, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital shortly thereafter.

Tim Oliver Lee, the victim’s brother, expressed relief, stating, “We think justice was done here today. What matters today is that we had a guilty verdict and Nima Momeni is going away for a very long time.”

Prosecutors contended that Momeni had premeditated the assault, driving Lee to a secluded area beneath the Bay Bridge before stabbing him three times with a knife taken from his sister’s kitchen. They alleged that Momeni was enraged after Lee introduced his younger sister to a drug dealer, who reportedly provided her with GHB and assaulted her.

Contrarily, Momeni testified that Lee was the aggressor, attacking him with a knife after being admonished for seeking out a strip club instead of spending time with family. A martial arts practitioner, Momeni claimed he acted in self-defense and asserted he was unaware of the fatal consequences of his actions.

The case has captivated national attention, particularly given Lee’s prominence in the technology sector. Initially, his death sparked a debate about public safety in San Francisco, as Elon Musk, the owner of X, remarked on the severity of violent crime in the city and the swift release of attackers even when apprehended.

According to San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, the verdict indicates that the killing was intentional rather than a random act of violence. “We are a city committed to accountability; we are a city committed to public safety,” Jenkins remarked to reporters after the court session.

Momeni, 40, has been incarcerated since his arrest in April 2023, when he was initially charged with first-degree murder. The jury began deliberations on Dec. 4, shortly after the trial commenced on Oct. 14.

Only two of Momeni’s five attorneys attended the court proceedings in person on Tuesday, while the others participated remotely from Florida.

“This is obviously very disappointing for us,” stated Tony Brass, hinting at the possibility of an appeal.

Although jurors made their decision late on Monday, the court opted to announce the verdict the following morning. The courtroom was filled with family, friends, and media, all eager to report on the high-profile case.

Both families attended the trial regularly. Mahnaz Tayarani, Momeni’s mother, occupied one side of the courtroom, while Lee’s family—comprised of his father, brother, and ex-wife—was on the opposite side, visibly distressed by the images from Lee’s autopsy and the 911 call recordings.

On Tuesday, Tayarani expressed her distress, describing the verdict as unjust. “My son is not the person they believe him to be. He’s very kind, loving, respectful, and caring,” she remarked.

Lee, known for developing the mobile payment service Cash App, was also serving as the Chief Product Officer at the cryptocurrency firm MobileCoin at the time of his death. He had relocated to Miami from the San Francisco Bay Area, where his ex-wife Krista Lee and their two children reside.

The timeline of events leading up to their confrontation on the early morning of April 4 is agreed upon by both parties. However, the specifics of their dialogue and the details surrounding the emergence of the knife remain unclear, as there is no independent footage to clarify the matter and the available video is of poor quality.

The prosecution argued that the video evidence captured Momeni stabbing Lee three times and demonstrated that the murder weapon—a nearly 8-inch paring knife with a roughly 4-inch blade—contained Momeni’s DNA on the handle and Lee’s DNA on the blade.

Ultimately, jurors did not agree to a first-degree murder charge, which would have required proving Momeni acted with intent and premeditation. Second-degree murder does not necessitate such proof.

Jurors remained tight-lipped and did not provide any statements to the media after the verdict.

On the afternoon prior to the stabbing, Lee and Khazar Momeni had been drinking and using drugs at an acquaintance’s apartment. Lee departed before Nima Momeni picked up his sister, who informed him of an alleged assault.

A friend of Lee testified that Momeni subsequently confronted Lee over the phone regarding the incident involving his sister, derogatorily addressing both men as “creeps” and “sexual predators” in texts.

Momeni spent time with Lee at Khazar Momeni’s condo until she dismissed both men, indicating her need for sleep.

Surveillance footage captured the duo exiting Khazar Momeni’s upscale condo around 2 a.m. and entering Nima Momeni’s BMW. Further footage later showed them emerging from the vehicle close to the Bay Bridge, where the stabbing took place.

Momeni testified that after hitting a pothole, which caused Lee to spill his beer, he suggested Lee should enjoy his last night with family rather than looking for a strip club. This remark allegedly incited an angry response from Lee, prompting him to draw a knife from his jacket and attack.

“I was scared for my life,” Momeni recounted during his testimony, which was marked by moments of confusion and confrontation.

He claimed Lee walked away from their altercation without any visible injuries and insisted he was unaware of the extent of Lee’s wounds until the next day.

“I feel terrible for his family and for him,” Momeni stated in court. “He didn’t deserve this, and neither does anyone else.”

The prosecution criticized Momeni’s account, emphasizing that at no point did he contact authorities to report Lee’s alleged attack or even after he learned of Lee’s death from stab wounds in the vicinity.

Prosecutors showcased text messages sent by Khazar Momeni to her brother, inquiring about Lee’s whereabouts after he was dropped off—a query Momeni avoided answering. She texted Lee to check on him after her brother’s outburst, thanking him for dealing with the matter “with class.”

By Janie Har