Money is nothing. The people behind this will make sure he wont pay a dime, such a small amount anyway.
Real justice is doing time, being blacklisted. Someone is keeping that from happening.
For all we know, the hoax is just part of a larger hoax.
The degree of haste and clumsiness displayed makes this all seem desperate. I can't help but think it is full bore damage control to stop any connection being made to Harris and their shared background with radical groups like the panthers
It could also be that they didn't feel they could rely on Jussie to keep his mouth shut if he was in on a larger plot to execute the whole racist attack melodrama. It feels like whoever is behind this was willing to endure the awful optics because the alternative was considered to be so much worse. Operatives at this level are usually not as clumsy as Smollett was; if they don't feel they can trust him to take one for the team when necessary his 'career' may be short indeed
#CementOvershoes