Bob Lee's killer sentenced after judge rejects new-trial bid
A San Francisco judge sentenced Nima Momeni to 16 years to life for the second-degree murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee and denied his request for a new trial.
- Development
- 10 November 2026
- Coverage
- Sentencing
- Current status
- Sentence imposed
- Source record
- 4 verified sources
Judge imposes 16-years-to-life sentence
San Francisco Superior Court Judge Alexandra Gordon sentenced Nima Momeni to 16 years to life in prison on November 10 for the fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee. A jury convicted Momeni of second-degree murder in December 2024 and found that he personally used a knife. The term combines the statutory punishment for second-degree murder with the weapon finding.
The sentence means Momeni must serve the minimum term before becoming eligible for parole consideration; it does not guarantee release. He has remained in custody since his arrest nine days after Lee's death in April 2023. Jail credit and later parole calculations will be handled under California law. [1] [2] [3]
New-trial motion denied before sentencing
Before imposing sentence, Gordon rejected Momeni's request for a new trial. His lawyers have said they intend to appeal the conviction and sentence. The defense can ask an appellate court to review claimed legal errors, but the guilty verdict and prison term remain in effect unless a court changes them.
Lee's relatives addressed the court during the hearing and described the effect of his death on his family. Momeni expressed sympathy while continuing to dispute the prosecution's account of the confrontation. [2] [3] [4]
Prosecution said Momeni planned the attack
Prosecutors said Momeni became angry with Lee over events involving Momeni's sister, Khazar, and drove Lee to a secluded area near the Bay Bridge in the early hours of April 4, 2023. They argued that Momeni brought a knife from his sister's kitchen and stabbed Lee three times, including a wound to the heart.
Lee, 43, was found on a downtown street seeking help and later died at a hospital. Surveillance footage, phone records and the recovered knife formed important parts of the prosecution case. The district attorney said the police homicide investigation supported the second-degree murder conviction. [1] [2] [3]
Momeni maintained he acted in self-defense
Momeni testified that Lee attacked him with the knife during an argument and that he responded in self-defense. He said he did not realize Lee had been seriously wounded. His attorneys argued that the state had not proved a planned killing.
Jurors rejected self-defense but also declined to convict Momeni of first-degree murder, which would have required proof of deliberation and premeditation. They instead found him guilty of second-degree murder, establishing an unlawful intentional killing without the additional finding required for first-degree murder. [1] [2] [3]
Appeal is the next stage
Momeni will begin serving the indeterminate state-prison sentence while his lawyers prepare an appeal. The appellate process will examine the trial record rather than retry the evidence before a new jury. The defense can challenge evidentiary rulings, jury instructions and other claimed legal errors, but an appeal does not automatically suspend the conviction. No appellate filing or hearing date had been announced at the time of sentencing.
The sentencing closes the trial-court phase that began with Momeni's 2023 arrest. Any parole review would occur only after the minimum term and under California's separate parole procedures. Lee's family may also participate in later proceedings where state law permits. [2] [3] [4]
Sources & further reading
- Emeryville Man Convicted of Murder in Deadly April 2023 Stabbing Incident ↗San Francisco District Attorney's Office · 2024-12-17 · Primary source
- Tech consultant sentenced to 16 years to life in stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee ↗Associated Press · 2026-11-10
- Nima Momeni sentenced for killing Cash App founder Bob Lee ↗San Francisco Chronicle · 2026-11-10
- Nima Momeni sentenced to 16 years to life for killing Cash App founder Bob Lee ↗ABC7 San Francisco · 2026-11-11
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