Suffolk County Conservative Party chairman Edward Walsh was convicted on corruption charges today by a federal grand jury.
The jury returned its verdict after a three-week-long trial, finding Walsh, 50, of East Islip, guilty on charges that he engaged in a scheme to steal wages for regular and overtime hours in connection with his employment with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Attorney for the the Eastern District of New York Robert Capers announced this evening. The jury convicted the defendant of both counts of an indictment charging him with theft of government funds and wire fraud.
“At trial, the government successfully proved that from January 2011 to April 2014, Walsh, a Suffolk County Corrections Officer investigator, falsely represented to the sheffir’s office that he had worked certain regular and overtime hours when, in fact, he did not work those hours,” according to a press release issued by Capers.
“Contrary to his representations, the government successfully established that Walsh was, among other things, playing golf, gambling at Foxwoods Casino, or performing work on behalf of the Suffolk County Conservative Party. In reliance on Walsh’s false representations, the sheriff’s office paid Walsh wages for hours he did not work. At trial, investigators estimated that Walsh was paid more than $200,000 for regular and overtime hours he did not work.”
“Edward Walsh lined his pockets with taxpayer money, and today justice was served,” Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco said in a statement. “The jury, who represent the People, spoke loud and clear that they are no longer willing to let political corruption fester in government. Members of law enforcement risk their lives each and every day to ensure public safety and we entrust them with upholding the law,” the sheriff said.
“While I am pleased that the jury came to this conclusion to convict former Lt. Edward Walsh on all counts of theft of government services and wire fraud, this is no cause for celebration,” DeMarco said. “The sheriff’s office will continue to seek justice on behalf of the people whenever we uncover corruption, and we will strive every day to serve our residents with openness and integrity.”
