Nima Momeni, convicted of killing Cash App and MobileCoin founder Bob Lee, has been sentenced to 16 years to life and plans to appeal the ruling.
A San Francisco Superior Court judge sentenced Nima Momeni to 16 years to life this week for the stabbing death of Bob Lee, the co‑founder of Cash App and creator of the MobileCoin cryptocurrency. According to Protos, Momeni’s legal team is preparing an appeal that claims his original trial suffered from ineffective counsel and alleged prosecutorial and juror misconduct.
Bob Lee, who helped launch Cash App in 2013 and introduced MobileCoin in 2021, was killed in February 2023 after leaving a San Francisco residence where his sister, Khazar Momeni, had been assaulted. CCTV footage captured Lee and Nima Momeni exiting the building at 2 a.m., followed by Momeni stabbing Lee with a kitchen knife. The prosecution argued the attack was motivated by Lee’s alleged involvement in the assault of Khazar, while Momeni claimed self‑defense, saying Lee attempted to stab him first.
A jury convicted Momeni in 2024 after weighing forensic evidence that showed three stab wounds and only Momeni’s DNA on the weapon. Judge Alexandra Gordon imposed a sentence ranging from 16 years to life, rejecting Momeni’s request for a new trial during a one‑hour hearing.
Momeni’s attorneys have filed a motion alleging that his original counsel failed to provide effective representation and that both the prosecution and jurors engaged in misconduct. The appeal will seek to overturn the conviction or reduce the sentence, though the court’s initial rebuttal was swift and unfavorable to the defence.
The appellate court’s decision, expected later this year, will determine whether Momeni’s conviction stands or if a new trial is ordered. Observers will also monitor any potential civil actions related to MobileCoin’s earlier alleged role in the FTX insolvency, a topic previously highlighted by Protos.
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