NYC tech CEO murderer sentenced to 40 years to life in prison: DA

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) — Tyrese Haspil was sentenced to 40 years to life in state prison for murdering his former boss, tech CEO Fahim Saleh, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced Tuesday.

Haspil murdered Saleh on July 13, 2020, after stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from him, officials said.

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Timeline of events according to court documents:

• May 2018 – Saleh hires Haspil as his entrepreneurial assistant

• September 2018 – Haspil created a PayPal account using a name that mimicked other financial transactions of the business. Money is funneled into the account while Haspil creates fake statements.

• December 2018 – Haspil created a corporate entity and bank account and funneled more money by mimicking other transactions.

• May 2019 – Hapsil retires knowing Saleh will learn about the embezzlement.

• January 2020 – Saleh learns about one of the frauds and confronts Haspil. Offers him a two-year repayment plan to settle $35,000 debt to avoid criminal prosecution.

• Haspil pays Saleh back with stolen money from the PayPal embezzlement. The embezzlement continues, totaling around $400,000.

• Haspil plots Saleh’s murder to cover up the PayPal embezzlement and prevent Saleh from potentially testifying against him.

• July 13, 2020 – Disguised, Haspil follows Saleh into his apartment, tastes him in the back, and stabs him multiple times in the neck and torso.

• July 14, 2020 – Haspil returns to dismember Saleh’s body with a saw and clean up the crime scene. The saw battery runs out so Haspil leaves to purchase a battery charger.

• Saleh’s cousin arrives and discovers his dismembered and decapitated body. Police are called.

• Haspil returns, sees police presence, and flees.

• July 17, 2020 – Haspil is arrested at an Airbnb he booked to celebrate his girlfriend’s birthday.

Watch: Sister of slain Lower East side tech CEO speaks out in emotional video

“Today, Tyrese Haspil is facing accountability for brutally murdering and decapitating Fahim Saleh, a kind, generous, and empathetic person who positively impacted the world. Even after the defendant stole from him to fund a lavish lifestyle, Mr. Saleh still gave him a second chance,” said District Attorney Bragg. “While today’s sentence won’t bring Mr. Saleh back, I hope it provides his family a sense of closure as they continue to mourn his painful loss.”

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, specifically Detective Salvatore Tudisco and Sergeant Christopher Dede of the 7th Precinct Detective Squad, and Detective Robert Hahn of Manhattan South Homicide Squad.

Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of his work here.

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