'Empire' star Jussie Smollett tells police he has drug problem - NEWS.com.au

Jussie Smollett told cops he has an untreated drug problem — raising questions about whether he might try to use the claim to at least get any potential prison sentence reduced, according to a report on Friday.

According to the New York Post, the Empire star divulged his alleged drug problem after turning himself in on Thursday morning on charges that he filed a false police report involving a hate crime, gossip website TMZ reported.

Prosecutors said Abimbola “Abel” Osundairo, one of the brothers who helped Smollett allegedly stage the Jan. 29 hate attack, served as Smollett’s drug dealer, selling him Molly several times since the spring of 2018.

The 36-year-old actor, in claiming to have a drug problem, could be paving the way to use it as a “mitigating factor” when it comes to sentencing, the site said.

In court documents, Smollett answered “no” to whether he had any mental or alcohol problems.

MORE: Smollett’s lawyers hit back at police

MORE: Smollett 'staged attack to advance career'

POLICE USED DOZENS OF SECURITY CAMERAS TO CATCH SMOLLETT

A painstaking review of more than four dozen surveillance cameras — including some hidden in residents’ doorbells — helped Chicago investigators uncover Jussie Smollett’s alleged hate hoax, police said.

Police Commander Edward Wodnicki recalled step-by-step how police tracked down the two brothers, Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, who say they were paid by the Empire star to help him stage his own hate assault.

Police culled footage from about 35 Chicago police “pod” cameras in the Streeterville neighbourhood where Smollett lives and where the attack took place on Jan. 29, as well from more than 20 private cameras, including the hidden gadgets.

“I gotta say, that was super helpful in this investigation,” Commander Wodnicki said at a press conference this week. “The city came together to investigate and help the police with this crime.”

“It was because of these pod cameras, our investment into technology the City of Chicago and the great assistance from the community in giving us those other cameras that led us to a really solid timeline of where our two persons of interest went,” he said.

Police worked backward to track the Osundairos’ movements — learning that the two men fled on foot and then jumped in a cab after they allegedly staged the attack.

The cab was located and led cops to a critical piece of the puzzle: a ride-share car the duo hailed to get to the scene of the supposed assault.

“That was the lead that we needed in order to identify the two persons of interest,” Comm. Wodnicki said. “At that point, we had a real good timeline of where these two people went.”

This story first appeared in the New York Post and is republished with permission.

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