He lives near Chicago like I live near Portland. It's his city as Portland is mine. If he said he lived in Kansas but cited crime in Chicago, you'd have a point.
That bit about inferring judges allowing lighter sentences "because jails are full" is specious and politically charged though. "Gun toting violent criminals are let out too soon" is a claim made by the police in Chicago. From Google searches, it's mostly talked up by Fox. From what I've read, across this nation, people who commit non-violent crimes do sometimes get let out early due to overcrowding but not violent criminals, not from what I've seen reported. So, yeah, highly sketchy, that claim of violent offenders being let out early as a matter of policy.
That said, Smollett apparently did commit a non-violent felony and as Taco and Gorrilla both say he probably will not serve time in prison. Funny how people can agree but continue to snarl at each other.