Jussie Smollett has been convicted of faking a racist and homophobic hate crime, and faces up to 20 years in jail for staging the attack and concocting a ‘ridiculous story’, a report by Daily Mail revealed.
The former Empire TV star stood rigid and showed no emotion as the guilty verdicts on five of the six counts of disorderly conduct were read out in the Chicago courtroom by Judge James Linn.
“For Mr Smollett to get up and lie for hours and hours, that really compounded his misconduct,” said Dan Webb, the special prosecutor.
Webb reminded journalists that 26 police officers spent 3,000 hours probing the fake attack against Smollett in a bid to help the disgraced actor find the people, who he falsely claimed attacked him in 2019.
Smollett – who was not guilty on the last count – had paced nervously, continually straightening his tie and adjusting the jacket of his gray suit before the jurors came in to deliver the devastating blow.
He could face up to 20 years behind bars.
Before the jury foreperson read the verdicts, Judge Linn appealed against court outbursts, adding: “I understand how emotional this has been for everybody.”
After they were delivered, he said, “You can tell by the tension in the courtroom that so much was at stake.”
Smollett, 39, continued to clasp his hands in front of him as he sat back down and the judge thanked the jurors.
Linn ordered a pre-sentence investigation and agreed Smollett should remain on bond.
He is set to be freed on bail until his sentencing.
Smollett left the court without responding to questions from reporters.