In a striking conclusion to a months-long investigation, Zul Mirza Mohamed has been handed a four-year prison sentence and ten years of probation by a Denton County jury for his role in ballot fraud during the 2020 Carrollton mayoral election.
KERA News reported that Mohamed, a former mayoral candidate, admitted to committing 106 felony offenses related to voter fraud involving manipulated mail-in ballots in other individuals' names.
During the trial, Mohamed faced the possibility of a two to 20-year imprisonment, alongside potential fines or probation.
The case drew significant attention as Mohamed was originally one of the candidates vying for the mayoral position in Carrollton.
The fraudulent activities centered around mail-in ballot applications, which Mohamed forged using the identities of Carrollton residents. These ballots were then sent to a mail store in Lewisville. Mohamed had cunningly set up a virtual mailbox utilizing false identification credentials.
Suspicion arose when Frank Phillips, the Elections Administrator, observed an unusual pattern of multiple applications originating from a single address. This inconsistency prompted actions from the local authorities, who began a deeper investigation.
Responding to these irregularities, investigators proceeded to contact the individuals whose ballots had been fraudulently requested. These residents overwhelmingly confirmed that they did not initiate the requests for mail-in ballots.
As part of the operation to catch Mohamed, an undercover officer was deployed to keep the postal facility under surveillance. Innovative measures included placing a tracker in one of the ballot boxes, which had been marked to ensure they remained unprocessed and illegal.
On October 7, 2020, Mohamed unwittingly retrieved this traced box from the facility and transported it to his residence on Bennington Drive in Carrollton. This key action allowed authorities to move forward decisively.
Subsequent to this pickup, a search warrant was executed at Mohamed's home. Officers uncovered the box of ballots intact within Mohamed's bedroom, an array of fraudulent identification documents, additional Dallas County ballot applications, and further tools for committing fraud such as a fake notary stamp.
Additionally, authorities discovered a lease for another commercial mailbox in Plano, reinforcing the premeditated nature of the fraudulent activities. Mohamed was promptly arrested on the same day that the search was conducted.
During the court proceedings, a clinical and forensic psychologist provided testimony regarding Mohamed's psychological state. The professional highlighted Mohamed's struggles with grandiose and persecutory delusions, noting that these were complex conditions that were not easily treated.
The psychological expert suggested that Mohamed's distortions required external compulsion by legal authorities to ensure he received the necessary treatment. This testimony added a layer of complexity to an already intricate case.
Quotes from the trial shed light on various perspectives within the case. Elections Administrator Frank Phillips pointed out how the electoral staff quickly identified the suspicious nature of ballots emerging from identical locations.
Meanwhile, jurors expressed through the press release their shared sentiment that the verdict combined with probation could potentially furnish Mohamed with the assistance he needs, while simultaneously communicating that such electoral misconduct is intolerable.
The trial also aimed to reinforce a clear message regarding electoral integrity. The punishment serves both as a corrective measure for Mohamed and as a preventive warning to others contemplating similar unethical conduct.
