IT consultant Nima Momeni is accused of fatally stabbing Cash App founder Bob Lee through the heart after an argument concerning Momeni's sister, Khazar Momeni, according to court documents released on Friday.
The police claim that prior to Lee's murder on the streets of San Francisco in the early hours of April 4, Momeni and the late tech entrepreneur had a phone conversation about Khazar, who is married to someone else. An anonymous witness informed the police that Nima questioned Lee about his sister, asking if Khazar, who is married to a renowned plastic surgeon, was "doing drugs or anything inappropriate."
Lee, 43, allegedly assured Momeni that nothing improper had occurred. The police did not provide further details on the nature of the relationship between Lee and Khazar, who is not named in the court documents.
The witness informed the police that it was unclear whether Lee and Khazar had an "intimate relationship." At the time of his murder, Lee was estranged from his wife, with whom he had two young daughters, and had relocated from California to Florida with his father.
On the night of the murder, Nima is accused of driving Lee to a "dark and secluded area" in San Francisco, where he allegedly stabbed him through the heart with a kitchen knife.
The police claim that Momeni brought the knife from his home, indicating that the murder was "planned and deliberate."
Around the time of Lee's murder, Khazar reportedly texted him to check on his well-being. The court documents quote her message as saying, "Just wanted to make sure you're doing ok. Cause I know Nima came wayyyyyy down hard on you. And thank you for being such a class man, handling it with class. Love you, selfish pricks."
Nima Momeni was arrested on Thursday morning following an extensive investigation. He made his first court appearance on Friday, attended by his sister and her husband. From the dock, he made a heart sign to her, and she reciprocated. Nima's formal arraignment is scheduled for April 25, and if convicted, he faces over 20 years in prison.