Jussie Smollett Convicted of Staging Attack, Lying to Police

Associated PressPublished: December 9, 2021

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 09: Former "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett arrives at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building to hear the verdict in his trial on December 9, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. Smollett was charged with lying to police when he reported that two masked men physically attacked him, yelling racist and anti-gay remarks near his Chicago home in 2019. Smollett was found guilty in five of the six counts against him. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

By DON BABWIN and SARA BURNETT, The Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) — A jury has convicted Jussie Smollett on five of six charges he staged a racist, anti-gay attack on himself and lied to Chicago police about it.

The jury returned the verdict Thursday afternoon against the former actor from the TV show "Empire" after a weeklong trial. Jurors acquitted him on one charge.

Two brothers testified that Smollett orchestrated the hoax to get publicity. They said he paid them to fake the January 2019 attack in downtown Chicago.

Smollett repeatedly denied the claims, calling the brothers "liars" and telling jurors "there was no hoax."

The charges carry a possible sentence of three years in prison, though legal experts say the 39-year-old Smollett is more likely to get probation and be ordered to perform community service.

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Check out some snap shots from the weekend.

Gallery Credit: Bill Keeler

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Gallery Credit: Bill Keeler