Former Empire actor Jussie Smollett has been found guilty on five of six counts of filing false police reports.
The 39-year-old claimed in 2019 that he had been viciously attacked in the streets of Chicago in the dead of night while allegedly on his way to a Subway sandwich shop.
He reported that he had been set upon by two “massive” male, white Trump supporters who shouted homophobic and racist abuse while also pouring an unknown liquid over him and tying a noose around his neck.
Throughout the trial he maintained he had not orchestrated the events by himself. He had insisted that he did not hire brothers Abel and Bola Osundairo to stage the onslaught.
However, after just 10 hours of deliberation, a Chicago jury found him to be guilty on Thursday.
He had been charged with six counts of felony disorderly conduct for allegedly filing a false police report.
During the trial, the Osundairo brothers, who are black, claimed the actor paid them as part of the plot.
Earlier in the week, Jussie himself took to the stand and their closing arguments, lawyers seeking to prosecute the failed actor told the jury there was “overwhelming” evidence that he had faked the attack himself.
He is facing up to three years in prison after the guilty verdict, but it remains to be seen whether he will be sentenced to jail time or not.
Due to his previously clean record, reports suggest he might be given community service.
The actor also has an on-going civil lawsuit going on because of the case, with the City of Chicago suing him over lost resources in investigating his claim.
Long before the trial began, back in February 2019, Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson – himself a black man – slammed the actor for lying about his attack seemingly in an effort to raise his own profile and make some money.
The Police Superintendent was fuming with the star at the time and raged at him in a press conference for: "[taking] advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career."
Jussie's career stalled following his accusations. Shortly after his claim, he was fired from the hit show Empire as public opinion turned against him.
