Jussie Smollett Labeled a Suspect by Chicago Police – The New York Times

Investigators, though, were able to track two men who appeared on video footage not far from the scene that night. Using ride share data, they discovered the two men were brothers who in fact knew Mr. Smollett. One had acted as an extra on “Empire.”

The police initially identified the brothers as possible suspects in the attack, but then released them after, anonymous law enforcement officials were quoted as saying, the men said Mr. Smollett had staged the attack and paid them a reported $3,500 to participate in it.

The brothers, Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo, of Nigerian descent, were brought in as witnesses to the grand jury Wednesday evening with their attorney.

Filing a false police report in Illinois is technically referred to as disorderly conduct and can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony. In Mr. Smollett’s case, the police statement said that the grand jury was considering a felony count, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.