If all that is alleged to be true is true, then Jussie Smollett is the most inept criminal in the world. According to Chicago PD, he paid for the staged hate crime with a check. I’m no criminal mastermind, but I would think not leaving a paper trail is probably a pretty basic rule. Don’t write a check for crime. If television has taught me anything, it’s that crime should be paid for in cash.

Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson said at a news conference on Thursday morning that the police have the $3,500 check in their possession. Of course they do. That is how checks work. They leave a physical trail to be found.

Chicago PD is like:

via GIPHY

According to police, Smollett was upset with what his salary on the show Empire, and decided a hate crime hoax would be a cool way to raise his profile and, with it, his pay.

Here’s my question: What do you think he wrote in the memo field?