CHICAGO — A jury found former "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett guilty on five of six felony counts of disorderly conduct for lying to Chicago police, according to CBS News and CNN.
The jury deliberated about eight hours after a weeklong trial. 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, who is Black and gay, testified “there was no hoax” and that he was the victim of a hate crime. He called the brothers “liars.”
His attorneys plan to appeal Thursday's decision, calling the verdict "inconsistent."
Smollett faces up to three years in prison and a $25,000 fine for each count. The judge will have discretion on the harshness of the sentence.
