Jussie Smollett, former “Empire” star, has been found guilty of five felony counts of disorderly conduct for making a false report to Chicago police that he was the victim of a hate crime in January 2019.
Former "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett is found guilty of five felony charges for lying about a fake hate crime https://t.co/MXCUtkuDhZ
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) December 9, 2021
Jussie Smollett has been found guilty on five counts of felony disorderly conduct by a Chicago jury for making false reports to police that he was the victim of a hate crime in January 2019. Smollett was also acquitted on 1 count of felony disorderly conduct.
— Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) December 9, 2021
During the case, prosecutors argued Smollett had staged the attack himself in an attempt to gain sympathy and raise his profile.
From CNN:
The jury of six men and six women deliberated for more than nine hours over Wednesday and Thursday.
A disorderly conduct charge for a false crime report is a Class 4 felony and punishable by up to three years in prison and a $25,000 fine. Cook County Judge James Linn will have discretion in imposing a concurrent or consecutive sentence for each count at a later date.
On January 29, 2019, Smollett, who is Black and gay, told authorities he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack near his Chicago apartment early that morning.
BREAKING: Former “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett was convicted on charges that he staged an anti-gay, racist attack on himself nearly three years ago and then lied to Chicago police about it. https://t.co/SV5vBq1pGq
— The Associated Press (@AP) December 9, 2021