Verdict Is In for Jussie Smollett

• The Empire actor has been found guilty of staging a hate crime and lying about it. In total, he’s been found guilty of five of the six charges of disorderly conduct after the actor claimed he was attacked back in 2019. 
  
• Three years ago, Smollett alleged that two men attacked him in the early morning hours near his apartment with racist intent and hurled racial slurs at him.  Two brothers, hired by Jussie as personal trainers and more, testified that he organized the attack and paid them to be involved, which Jussie still denies.
  
• According to experts, even though the actor was found guilty, he more than likely won’t serve any time in jail. 
  
• Now that Jussie’s been found guilty, The City of Chicago will have an easier time getting Jussie to pay restitution in the amount of $130k — the amount the city says it dropped on investigating the hoax attack. The judge could add that to the sentencing, which would make the civil lawsuit the city has filed moot
  
• He was not taken into custody, and will remain free pending sentencing
  

Susan Saunders 12/10/21