A tech consultant was convicted on Tuesday of second-degree murder in the death of Bob Lee, the founder of Cash App, who was killed last year, a case that heightened concerns over safety in San Francisco following the pandemic.
Nima Momeni, 40, avoided first-degree murder charges but now faces a sentence ranging from 16 years to life in prison. Momeni showed no visible reaction to the verdict, while dozens of Lee's friends and family members attended the hearing, planning to share memories of him.
“We’re happy with the verdict,” said Oliver Lee, Bob Lee’s brother. “He’s going to be in jail for a long time. Now we can start healing.” Oliver stood alongside his brother’s former wife, Krista Lee, and their father, Richard Lee, who embraced emotionally. Krista expressed relief at the guilty verdict, stating, “Bob was here with us today for sure. I can feel him.”
Defense attorney Tony Brass announced intentions to file an appeal, stating, “We will fight on. A lot of legal decisions were made that need to be revisited with a calmer eye.”
On April 4, 2023, police discovered Bob Lee bleeding in a doorway in downtown San Francisco. He had been stabbed in the hip and heart and died shortly after calling 911 for help. Lee, 43, was a prominent tech executive and the chief product officer of the cryptocurrency start-up MobileCoin at the time of his death.
Lee had recently relocated to Miami but was visiting San Francisco when the incident occurred. Prosecutors argued that Momeni killed Lee in a fit of anger after learning that Lee had introduced his sister to drug dealers. Momeni’s defense claimed he acted in self-defense, asserting that Lee lunged at him with a knife.
During the trial, it was revealed that Lee was under the influence of cocaine, alcohol, and ketamine at the time of his death. Defense lawyers contended that Lee's drug use contributed to aggressive behavior. Prosecutors noted that only Momeni's DNA was found on the knife's handle and criticized his failure to call 911.
The incident sparked significant reactions from tech leaders, with some attributing the killing to broader issues of crime and safety in San Francisco. Elon Musk and other tech figures expressed concerns about the city's safety, while others later clarified that the incident stemmed from a personal dispute.
The trial highlighted the drug-fueled party culture among the city's elite, with defense attorneys presenting video evidence of Lee using drugs shortly before his death. Lee's family dismissed these claims as manipulative, asserting that the object he held was a collar stay, not a drug implement.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins expressed relief at the verdict, hoping it would help restore confidence in San Francisco's safety. She emphasized the importance of thorough investigations before drawing conclusions about the city’s reputation.
Sentencing for Momeni is expected to occur in February or March.