Jussie Smollett indicted on 16 counts in attack hoax case

VALERIE MACON / AFP

American actor Jussie Smollett has been indicted by a grand jury in Chicago on 16 felony counts after allegedly lying to the police about being a victim of hate crime.

The 16 charges involve giving false statements to two different Chicago Police officers.

Prosecutors had previously charged him with one count of filing a false report, which carries the possibility of up to three years in prison.

According to the police, the 36-year-old actor staged the attack in January because he was reportedly "dissatisfied" with his salary.

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