Shooter Gets 23 Years To Life In Long Island Musician's Murder: DA

MINEOLA, NY — A Freeport man was sentenced Monday to 23 years to life in prison in connection with the shooting death and robbery of a Long Beach man who had just received a $55,000 settlement check from a lawsuit, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.

Eric Baldwin, 27, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree robbery, as well as second-degree robbery, and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon back in September.

Two years earlier, on Sept. 10, 2021, James Diamond, 28, of Long Beach, and a friend, had driven to a law firm in Long Beach to pick up a $55,000 check, which was awarded as part of a lawsuit, prosecutors said, adding that after receiving the check, the pair picked up Corey Grier and then drove to a check cashing business.

Grier then directed them in their vehicle to South Bay Avenue in Freeport and Diamond and his friend left to try to deposit the cash at a nearby bank, prosecutors said.

Grier allegedly called Baldwin and Todd Brant to meet him at South Bay Avenue, prosecutors said, adding that Baldwin, Brant, and Akeem Chambers drove to South Bay Avenue to meet up with Grier.

When Diamond and his friend returned to the location, Baldwin and Akeem Chambers allegedly took Diamond and his friend out of their vehicle at gunpoint, prosecutors said.

A struggle ensued, and Diamond was shot once in the abdomen by Baldwin, according to prosecutors.

Baldwin took Diamond’s bag filled with cash and fled, prosecutors said, adding that Diamond was later pronounced dead at South Nassau Communities Hospital in Oceanside.

Diamond had worked as a tradesman and was an aspiring musician.

Both Baldwin and Grier were arrested in 2021.

Grier, 29, pleaded guilty in August to first-degree robbery and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison and five years’ post-release supervision on Oct. 5.

“Eric Baldwin and Corey Grier helped lure 28-year-old James Diamond to his death, when they convinced the young man to meet them in Freeport,” Donnelly said, adding that Diamond had more than $50,000 in cash on him when he was shot by Baldwin "in a struggle for the money."

"Jimmy Diamond was a popular and talented young man who was taken too early," she said. "We extend our condolences to his countless family members and friends.”

Patch has reached out to Baldwin's attorney, Richard Langone of Garden City. Grier's attorney, Justin Feinman of Mineola, could not be reached for comment.