Jussie Smollett Faces 64-Yrs, Does The Time Fit The Crime?

Today in Tha Wire CNN reports Empire actor Jussie Smollett is facing 64-years in prison after being indicted on 16 felony counts for filing a false police report. The 36-year old maintains that he's innocent and insists the January attack really happened. In January the Smollett filed a police report claiming he was attacked by two white Donald Trump supporters wearing MAGA hats. The men allegedly put a rope around his neck while yelling racist, homophobic slurs, tied a rope around his neck, and poured bleach on him while yelling, “This is MAGA country!”

Problem is, Smollett hasn't presented any evidence to prove he's telling the truth. On the other hand, Police say they have all the evidence they need to prove Smollett concocted the entire thing. Below Jussie Smollett tells his side of the story with Robin Roberts.

As previously reported Chicago's Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, said the actor was no longer considered a victim. In February Johnson held a press conference to lay out what his department turned up during their investigation. Johnson announced the openly gay actor was a suspect and used Chicago's police department to raise his celebrity status saying, “How could someone look at the hatred and suffering associated with that symbol and see an opportunity to manipulate that symbol to further his own public profile?”

Chicago police tracked down the two men seen in surveillance footage the night of the alleged attack. They turned out to be two brothers from Nigerian. Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo told police the actor hired them to pull off the bogus attack. Olabinjo met Smollett when he appeared on Empire last season, The brothers had receipts and gave police the $3,500 check Smollett wrote them to help stage the alleged hate crime. Johnson said “Why would anyone, especially an African-American man, use the symbolism of a noose to make false accusations?

The police superintendent also sat down with Robin to speak out on why Smollett became a suspect. Jussie allegedly lied about the attack hoping to advance his career and coin status because he wanted more than the $125,000 salary Empire paid him per-show.

CBS reports the Empire actor could possibly spend the rest of his life in prison for filing a fake police report. A grand jury indicted Smollett on 16 felonies counts of Disorderly Conduct and now he's staring down a 64-year prison sentence if he gets convicted.

Smollett's legal problems forced the team at Empire to put some distance between the star and the hit TV show. The show's producers announced he character Jamal would not be back this season. FOX execs stopped short of saying he was fired and obviously waiting to see how all this plays out.

Meanwhile, I think everyone agrees the actor should face some form of punishment if it's proven he staged the attack. However, 64-years in prison for filing a false police report? Is this a bit extreme? To help put things in perspective take a look at charges that bring the most prison time- First Degree Murder is 20 to 25 years. Voluntary Manslaughter is 3 to 25 years. Child Molester is 5 to 25 years.

Does Jussie's time fit the crime? Let us know what you think.