TRENTON, NJ — Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced charges of election fraud against Dr. Henrilynn Ibezim, a former mayoral candidate in Plainfield. Ibezim allegedly orchestrated the mailing of hundreds of false voter registration applications to Union County election officials.
The charges followed an investigation by the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability’s (OPIA) Corruption Bureau. Ibezim, 68, is accused of directing associates and campaign volunteers to fill out false voter registration applications, which were then sent to the Union County Commissioner of Registration.
Ibezim was observed on May 18, 2021, at the U.S. Post Office on North Broad Street in Elizabeth, carrying a trash bag containing 954 voter registration applications. Investigators later found many of the forms displayed the same handwriting.
“Attempting to tamper with an election result through fraud impairs the ability of legitimate voters to choose their representatives, a cornerstone of American democracy,” said Attorney General Platkin. “It also undermines the legitimacy of government and the public’s confidence in their elected officials and in elections generally. My office will vigorously pursue these crimes to protect New Jersey’s electorate from being defrauded and to safeguard the integrity of our institutions.”
Despite the alleged efforts, Ibezim’s campaign was not successful. During the investigation, he provided a recorded statement falsely claiming that he had purchased the false applications from other individuals.
Attorney General Platkin emphasized the severity of the charges. “Attempting to tamper with an election result through fraud undermines the ability of legitimate voters to choose their representatives and the public’s confidence in government,” said Platkin.
Thomas J. Eicher, Executive Director of OPIA, stated that the alleged fraud was an attempt to not only undermine Ibezim’s political rivals but also to deceive the citizens of Plainfield.
Submitting a fraudulent voter registration application carries a penalty of up to $15,000, up to five years in prison, or both, along with other potential criminal penalties.