By: Richard L. Smith
A former mayoral candidate in Plainfield has admitted to attempting to submit fraudulent voter registration applications connected to a 2021 municipal election, authorities announced.
According to a statement released by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, 71-year-old Henrilynn Ibezim pleaded guilty on April 27, 2026, before Judge Candido Rodriguez Jr. in Superior Court in Union County.
Ibezim admitted to one count of third-degree forgery as part of a plea agreement with the Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity and Accountability.
In exchange, prosecutors agreed to dismiss the remaining charges and not pursue additional criminal violations tied to the June 2021 Democratic primary election in Plainfield.
Under the agreement, prosecutors will recommend a sentence of probation. Sentencing is scheduled for June 18, 2026.
Authorities said that during the investigation, Ibezim allegedly attempted to mail a garbage bag containing approximately 1,000 falsified voter registration applications from an Elizabeth post office to the Union County Commissioner of Registration.
According to court documents, the applications included personal identifying information of individuals without their authorization and appeared to have been completed by only a small number of writers.
Officials also noted the forms failed to disclose that someone other than the voter had filled them out, as required by law.
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport emphasized the importance of election integrity, stating that efforts to undermine the voting process threaten public confidence in the democratic system.
The case remains pending sentencing.