Incorrect. The courts/the jury are allowed to adjust the statutory damages after taking account of actual damages, though it doesn't have to be proportional. See, for example, "Therefore, due process does not require that [the statutory damages award] be confined or proportioned to [the plaintiffs] loss or damages. However, because statutory damages have, in part, a compensatory purpose, assessed statutory damages should bear some relation to the actual damages suffered.”
Capitol Records, Inc. v. Thomas-Rasset, 799 F. Supp. 2d 999, 100 U.S.P.Q.2d (BNA) 1183 (D. Minn. 2011), "While it is clear that to require a plaintiff to adduce specific proof of actual damages or profits would contravene the purpose of the statutory damages provision, this does not mean that it is irrelevant whether and to what extent a plaintiff has been harmed by a defendant's infringement. To the contrary, numerous courts have held that assessed statutory damages should bear some relation to the actual damages suffered."
Bly v. Banbury Books, Inc., 638 F. Supp. 983 (E.D. Pa. 1986), "In summary, the jury has broad discretion to consider many factors when fixing the amount of a statutory damages award, including (1) the amount of any actual damages to the copyright holder or any profits obtained by the infringer, (2) any difficulties in proving either damages or profits, (3) the infringer's state of mind, (4) the nature of and circumstances surrounding the infringement, (5) the conduct and attitude of the parties in relation to the infringement, and (6) deterrence."
Nunes v. Rushton, Case No. 2:14-cv-00627-JNP-DBP (D. Utah May. 14, 201
Whether or not Russ made any money at all from his books, therefore, is an very relevant question.