Former Suffolk County Conservative Party chairman Ed Walsh was sentenced Tuesday to 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release after being convicted of wire fraud and theft of government funds. 

Walsh was convicted in March 2016 after investigators said he falsely represented to the Suffolk County Sherriff's Office the amount of hours he had worked.  Instead of working, investigators said he was playing golf, gambling at Foxwoods Casino or performing work for the Suffolk County Conservative Party. 

According the U.S. Attorney's Office, Walsh was paid more than $200,000 for regular and overtime hours he did not work. 

He will begin his sentence on Aug. 22. He was also ordered to pay more than $200,000 in restitution.

Walsh's attorney William Wexler told News 12 that no decision has been made yet regarding an appeal of the judge's sentence.

The federal case began when Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco went to prosecutors with Walsh's questionable time sheets more than two years ago. He says judge’s decision Tuesday was the right one.

“I think the judge sent a strong message…I think his comments were well-spoken and get right to the point [that] nobody is above the law,” says DeMarco.