Cash App founder Bob Lee allegedly frequented underground sex and drug parties for San Francisco’s elite with the sister of his accused killer after an argument about her.
Lee’s death was initially believed to be a case of random violence in a city where crime is soaring, but his friends suggested it was instead a result of the Cash App founder’s indulgent lifestyle among the upper echelon of Bay Area society where cocaine and swingers were common, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Known in wealthy circles as “The Lifestyle,” Lee, 43,a father of two, allegedly enjoyed the city’s underground party scene, as did Khazar Momeni, wife of a prominent plastic surgeon and sister of Nima Momeni.
People familiar with the group said Lee and Khazar, 37, were sleeping together, and many feared he’d fallen into a dangerous lifestyle, surrounding himself with the wrong group of people.
Lee was allegedly confronted by Nima about the hard-partying and his sister’s involvement in an argument erupting in the early hours of April 4 when Lee was stabbed multiple times, prosecutors said.
Lee reportedly stumbled around begging for help before collapsing near the Bay Bridge — just 16 minutes from Khazar’s apartment.
According to a friend, Lee was passionate about his tech industry work developing the popular Venmo competitor following his career as a Google programmer.
But in his spare time, Lee allegedly was involved in casual drug use and partying, taking ketamine and cocaine and traveling to raves around the world, his friends told the news outlet.
Harper Reed, the CEO of General Calacic Corporation, claimed they both once opted to strip off their pants to attend one such party.
Devon Meyers, another friend of Lee, said the parties appeared to help the tech programmer unwind and connect with other bigwigs, noting “The Lifestyle” parties had strict rules to kick out anyone who was getting too “drunk and handsy.”
Aside from the casual drug use, Lee, who was separated from his wife, allegedly slept with multiple women at the parties, including Khazar.
If Lee was the life of the party, his friend, Nima, 38, was the wet blanket often brooding in the corner, the sources added.
Both men were attending a house party on April 3 when Nima confronted Lee, asking if he and his sister were “doing drugs or anything inappropriate,” prosecutors alleged.
An autopsy report from the San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s office revealed Lee had cocaine and ketamine in his system when he died.
Khazar texted Lee around the time of his slaying to check on him, according to court documents.
“Just wanted to make sure you’re doing ok Cause I know Nima came wayyyyyy down hard on you,” she wrote.
“And thank you for being such a class manhandling it with class. Love you Selfish pricks.”
Krista Lee, Lee’s ex-wife, denied her former husband was a “party boy” and claimed she never heard the term, “The Lifestyle,” before.
“He was a dedicated father. He was more mature than that,” she told the news outlet.
Nima was arrested on April 13 and charged with murder.
If convicted, he faces 26 years to life in prison.
His attorney Paula Canny said he intends to plead not guilty.
