5th Person Arraigned In Connection To 2021 Murder, Robbery: Nassau DA

FREEPORT, NY — A fifth person has been indicted in connection to a Sept. 2021 shooting death and robbery of a man who had just received a settlement check of $55,000.

Akeem Chambers, 20, was arraigned on Friday on charges that include second-degree murder and two counts of first-degree robbery, Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly announced.

If convicted of the top charge, Chambers faces a potential maximum sentence of 25 to life in prison.

He was remanded and is due back in court on Aug. 23, the DA's office said.

"Chambers and his co-defendants allegedly lured James Diamond, who had more than $50,000 in cash on him, to Freeport where the victim was robbed and shot once in the chest," Donnelly said. "This defendant was on the run for nearly 10 months and was arrested due to the extraordinary work of our police partners and our prosecutors. Our thoughts remain with the family of James Diamond as we prosecute the people who allegedly orchestrated his murder."

According to the indictment, on September 10, 2021, Diamond and a friend, drove to a law firm in Long Beach to pick up a check for $55,000.00, that Diamond was awarded as part of a lawsuit.

After receiving the check, the pair picked up Corey Grier and 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 attempt to deposit the cash at a nearby bank, the DA said.

Chambers was arrested in Elmhurst, Queens by the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force.