Eminem’s Former Engineer Faces Federal Charges Over Unreleased Music Theft; Here’s What Happened

It was announced on Wednesday that one of Eminem’s previous sound engineers is facing federal accusations for allegedly stealing and selling the artist’s unpublished music online. The FBI investigation has discovered stolen handwritten lyrics, videos of the rapper, a $50,000 Bitcoin transaction, and additional evidence.

According to Page Six, Joseph Strange, aged 46 from Holly, Michigan, faces an allegation for violating copyright laws and moving misappropriated items across state borders.

If found guilty, it’s alleged that Strange, the individual dismissed from Eminem’s Detroit-area studio in 2021, faces a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years. The authorities claim that Strange illegally copied files onto an external drive, from October 2019 to January 2020, during his time as an engineer at the studio.

The unauthorized release of previously unheard songs became known in January when studio staff members noticed the tracks appearing on platforms like Reddit and YouTube. Yet, Em’s business partner Fred Nassar took action by issuing a warning online about the leaked content, which helped investigators track down those who had bought it.

Law enforcement traced the sales of stolen music to multiple buyers. One of these buyers, known as Doja Rat online, told investigators they had spent around $50,000 worth of Bitcoin on 25 unreleased songs. This individual was gathering funds from fellow music fans who share an interest in the underground scene.

In an affidavit, it was stated that ATL of Connecticut, a subsequent buyer, purchased various tracks for $1,000. Later on, during a FBI search at Strange’s residence, they discovered handwritten lyrics by Em, a VHS tape of an unpublished Kamikaze rapper video, and hard drives containing more than 12,000 audio files.

In a recent announcement, it’s been reported that US Attorney Julie Beck in Detroit stated, “It’s essential to secure intellectual property against theft to preserve the unique rights of inventors and shield their innovative works from being copied and sold by people aiming to benefit from the creativity of others.

The affidavit further revealed that Strange was bound by a separation agreement which prevented him from disclosing Eminem’s creative works. However, the Godzilla rapper has yet to make an official statement regarding this legal matter.

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2025-03-20 20:52