Jussie Smollett Sentenced To 150 Days In Jail In Hate Crime Hoax Case

Former Empire actor Jussie Smollett has been sentenced to 150 days in jail and 30 months of felony probation in the hate crime hoax case. He will begin sentencing immediately.

He is also ordered to pay more than $120,000 in restitution to the city of Chicago and was fined $25,000.

Smollett was convicted of lying to the police about being attacked near his Chicago apartment. Images and videos show the actor with a noose around his neck while telling the story, indicating that it was a hate crime.

Later on in the investigation, it was revealed that Smollett hired two brothers to attack him.

In December, Smollett was convicted in a trial that included the testimony of the two brothers who told jurors Smollett paid them to carry out the attack, gave them money for the ski masks and rope, instructed them to fashion the rope into a noose.

Prosecutors said he told them what racist and homophobic slurs to shout, and to yell that Smollett was in “MAGA Country,” a reference to the campaign slogan of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.

Smollett, who knew the men from his work on the television show Empire that filmed in Chicago, testified that he did not recognize them and did not know they were the men attacking him.

Judge James Linn issued the ruling and said, “You turned your life upside down,” He added, “You destroyed your life as you know it. There is nothing I can do to you today that will come close to the damage you’ve done to your own life.”

The judge said that he believed Smollett “craved attention” and that he faked the crime to “make yourself more famous.”

“You were throwing a national pity party for yourself,” Linn said.

Jussie and his family still claim his innocence and they shared a message on his Instagram.

A family member added, “”OUR BROTHER IS INNOCENT AND WE WILL KEEP FIGHTING. #FreeJussie

Here’s a clip (via CBS News) of the ruling and Smollett’s reaction after hearing the sentencing.