Former Mayoral Candidate Pleads Guilty to Forgery

Henrilyn Ibezim, who once ran for mayor in Plainfield, New Jersey, has pleaded guilty to forgery. The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office disclosed that during the 2021 Democratic primary, nearly 1,000 fraudulent voter registration applications were submitted.

Allegedly, Ibezim took a garbage bag filled with these fake applications to a post office in Elizabeth, intending to send them to the Union County Registrar Commissioner. Most of these applications showed a striking similarity, as they were filled out in the handwriting of just a few individuals.

Interestingly, none of the forms suggested they had been completed by anyone aside from the supposed voters. Furthermore, Ibezim allegedly tried to coach some witnesses who assisted him with these applications on how to respond to law enforcement inquiries, telling them to “admit nothing.”

In the election, Ibezim received a mere 103 votes, significantly trailing behind the current mayor, Adrian O. Mapp.

During a plea deal, Ibezim pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree forgery, while previous charges, including election fraud and witness tampering, were dismissed.

Prosecutors plan to suggest a suspended sentence for him, with sentencing scheduled for June.

Attorney General Jennifer Davenport emphasized the importance of maintaining election integrity. She stated, “My office is determined to ensure that elections are fair and that the results are determined by the will of the voters.” She further noted, “Failure to hold them accountable opens the door to a loss of public trust in our democratic process.”