Dr. Henrilynn Ibezim, who once ran for mayor in Plainfield, New Jersey, has been charged with serious crimes related to election fraud.
The charges are related to allegations that he attempted to manipulate the 2021 Democratic primary. In particular, he is accused of submitting hundreds of fraudulent voter registration forms to officials in Union County.
In June 2021, Ibezim, 70, ran for mayor during the Democratic primary. According to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, Ibezim, 70, was found with nearly 1,000 fraudulent voter registration forms.
These forms, allegedly completed without the authorization of the individuals whose names appeared on them, were brought to an Elizabeth post office with the intent to be sent to the Union County Commissioner of Registration.
Most of the forms showed signs of being filled out by only three or four people despite appearing to come from different residents of Plainfield.
Ibezim is now facing eight criminal charges. These include:
- Second-degree election fraud and trafficking in personal identifying information (which could result in a sentence of 5 to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000 if convicted)
- Third-degree criminal attempt to commit false registration or transfer
- Tampering with public records or information
- Forgery
- Hindering apprehension or prosecution
- Tampering with witnesses and informants
- Fourth-degree falsifying or tampering with records
As we can see, these charges are pretty serious and show how Ibezim tried to mess with the voting process by using people’s information without their permission.
Turning to the investigation itself, investigators from the New Jersey Office of Public Integrity and Accountability looked into the case. They discovered that the voter registration forms had been created using personal information from people who didn’t give their consent.
Ibezim allegedly gave false information to law enforcement, claiming he had paid two people to collect completed forms.
He even went so far as to coach a witness on what to say to investigators, telling them not to “admit anything.”
Despite all of this effort, Ibezim’s run for mayor didn’t go well. He received just 80 unofficial votes, the last of four candidates.
Mayor Adrian Mapp, who secured the most votes, eventually ran unopposed in the general election. Meanwhile, Ibezim had previously tried to run for mayor in 2017, but that attempt was also unsuccessful.
If Ibezim is convicted on these second-degree charges, he could face a lengthy prison sentence—up to 10 years—and hefty fines.
As the legal process moves forward, this case is a strong example of the consequences of election fraud. And it highlights the gravity of such actions, as trying to manipulate an election undermines the entire democratic system.
Given these findings, the investigation has shown that election fraud isn’t taken lightly. The charges brought against Ibezim by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, led by Matthew J. Platkin, demonstrate the state’s commitment to protecting election integrity.
In this case, Ibezim’s actions not only violated election laws but also tried to deceive voters and officials.
Dr. Henrilynn Ibezim now faces a long legal battle with potentially severe consequences. Furthermore, his case reminds us that election laws protect the democratic process, and violations of those laws will not be tolerated.