In The Attack Hoax Case, Jussie Smollett Was Sentenced To 150 Days In Prison

After a jury convicted him guilty of lying to police about being the victim of a hate crime, Jussie Smollett was sentenced to 150 days in prison.

After fabricating false claims about the hoax attack, the former Empire star, 39, was convicted guilty of five counts of felony disorderly conduct in December.

The punishment also includes 30 months of probation and restitution and fines totaling $145,000 (£110,000).

"I did not do this!" Smollett exclaimed after the sentence.

The case came from a three-year-old incident in which Smollett said he was attacked by two people.

While walking late at night in January 2019, the actor, who is black and gay, alleged the attackers shouted racial slurs and a Trump slogan at him, dumped a "chemical substance" on him, and tied a noose around his neck.

Authorities launched an investigation, but Smollett was charged with filing a fake police complaint in February of that year, stating he orchestrated the incident.

Last year, a jury of six men and six women heard testimony from brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, who alleged that Smollett paid them $3,500 to plot and carry out the assault.

For each of the five offenses, Smollett faced up to three years in jail. Beginning immediately, he will be held in custody for the first 150 days of his probation.

He must also pay the city of Chicago $120,106 in restitution and $25,000 in fines, which is the maximum amount allowed by law.

Smollett maintained throughout the trial that he was the victim of a crime.

His defense team requested for the case to be dismissed or declared a mistrial in court on Thursday, citing a former prosecutor's promise to drop the charges in 2019.

The endeavor was described by prosecutors as "finger-pointing and scapegoating."