Jury Delivers Verdict In High-Profile Case Involving Cash App Founder

Timothy Oliver Lee, the brother of Bob Lee, spoke at the Hall of Justice during the trial of Nima Momeni on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, in San Francisco. On the same day, a jury found Momeni guilty of second-degree murder for the death of Bob Lee, who founded the Cash App.

This charge means Momeni faces a sentence of 16 years to life in prison. The jury’s decision rejected Momeni’s claim of self-defence.

Jury Finds Momeni Guilty Of Stabbing Tech Executive Bob Lee In Planned Attack

The jury took seven days to decide the case against Momeni. The incident happened on April 4, 2023, when Bob Lee was found bleeding on a quiet street in downtown San Francisco. He was calling for help before he died from his injuries at the hospital.

Prosecutors argued that Momeni planned the attack. They said he drove Lee to a hidden spot near the Bay Bridge and stabbed him three times with a knife, including once in the heart.

The knife came from Momeni’s sister’s kitchen. Prosecutors explained that Momeni was angry because he believed Lee introduced his sister to a drug dealer. This drug dealer allegedly gave her GHB and other drugs before assaulting her.

On the other hand, Momeni said that Lee attacked him with the knife after Momeni criticized Lee for not spending enough time with his family. Momeni, who has martial arts training, stated he acted in self-defence. He said he did not know that his actions would lead to Lee’s death.

This case drew national attention, partly because of Lee’s importance in the tech world. His death raised concerns about safety in San Francisco. Public figures like Elon Musk shared their thoughts on social media about crime rates in the city.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said the jury’s decision showed that Lee’s death was a planned act and not a random act of violence.

Momeni Charged With First-Degree Murder In Bob Lee’s Death

Momeni has remained in jail since his arrest in April 2023, when he was charged with first-degree murder. Both families attended the trial regularly. Momeni’s mother and Lee’s father, brother, and ex-wife were present.

The trial started on October 14, and the jury got the case on December 4. They reached a decision by Monday afternoon, and the verdict was announced on Tuesday morning. The courtroom was filled with Lee’s family, friends, and reporters.

Bob Lee was well-known for creating the Cash App and serving as the chief product officer of MobileCoin, a cryptocurrency company. He had recently moved to Miami, while his ex-wife Krista Lee remained in the San Francisco Bay Area with their two children.

Both sides agreed on the events that led to the confrontation early on April 4, but there was no clear proof of their exact exchange or who first grabbed the knife. The video footage did not provide a definite answer. The prosecution argued that the video showed Momeni stabbing Lee three times. They also presented evidence that the knife, an 8-inch paring knife, had Momeni’s DNA on the handle and Lee’s DNA on the blade.