BREAKING: Jussie Smollett Indicted on 16 Felony Counts by Grand Jury – Faces 48 YEARS Behind Bars

A Cook County Grand Jury returned a 16-count indictment against Jussie Smollett, according to court records.

According to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, the indictment was returned by the grand jury on Thursday, reported ABC 7 Chicago.

Jussie Smollett was originally hit with one felony count of disorderly conduct for filing a false police report on February 20th.

According to court records, the grand jury returned two separate sets of charges — one related to what Jussie Smollett told police officers about the fake attack, including his claims he was attacked by two white males screaming homophobic and racial slurs at him while they poured bleach on him and put a noose around his neck.

The other charges are related to a subsequent interview Jussie Smollett had with police.

The new charges each carry a possibility of probation for up to four years and a maximum sentence of 48 years behind bars and fines of up to $400,000.

It is highly unlikely Jussie Smollett will serve time in prison; experts say he will likely strike a plea deal and skate.

Smollett was taken into custody but posted a $100,000 bond on the same day.

The truth about the hate hoax eventually bubbled up and revealed that Jussie Smollett paid two Nigerian brothers $3,500 to carry out the hoax.

Smollett is also behind the ‘threatening letter’ that was sent to the ‘Empire’ studio in Chicago.

The letter is still with the FBI at a crime lab for analysis — Smollett could face federal charges for lying to the feds about that fake letter.

Despite all of this evidence, Jussie Smollett maintains he’s innocent of the charges.

Local Chicago crime investigators CWB Chicago broke the exclusive story that a Cook County grand jury returned a 16-count indictment against Jussie Smollett.

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Cristina began writing for The Gateway Pundit in 2016 and she is now the Associate Editor.

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