Eminem’s ex-employee busted for leaking and selling rapper’s unreleased music, could face prison time

Former employee charged for stealing Eminem’s tracks

According to the criminal complaint, on January 16, a staff member from Eminem’s studio in Ferndale, Michigan, reached out to the FBI. This came after they found one of Eminem’s unreleased songs, which he was still working on, being listed for sale on several online sources. The team at the studio immediately recognised the listings. They pointed out that the images used were taken directly from a hard drive at their Ferndale location.

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Once authorities got involved, the FBI quickly tracked down the person behind the leak. They contacted people who had purchased the music online, which eventually led them to the suspect, Joseph Strange, who used to work as the sound engineer for the Detroit-based musician. If the charges against Strange are proven, he could be facing up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine under criminal copyright infringement law. The report also mentions he may face an additional 10 years for interstate transportation of stolen goods.

According to the complaint, the unreleased music was stored on password-protected hard drives locked inside a safe at Eminem’s Detroit-based studio. A security review found that files had been transferred from one of those hard drives to an external device back in October 2019 and again in January 2020. At that time, Joseph Strange was employed by the singer.

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In a statement, U.S. Attorney Julie Beck noted how important it is to protect artists and their creative work. “Protecting intellectual property from thieves is critical in safeguarding the exclusive rights of creators and protecting their original work from reproduction and distribution,” she said according to the HR, adding that some individuals try to profit from the hard work of others.

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As of now, a trial on felony charges can’t move forward until the investigation wraps up. Officials will then decide whether to pursue a felony indictment. The FBI’s Oakland County Resident Agency is leading the investigation. Agent Cheyvoryea Gibson spoke about the agency’s efforts, saying, “This investigation underscores the FBI’s commitment to safeguarding artists’ intellectual property from exploitation.” He also thanked Mathers Music Studio for its cooperation, which helped agents quickly track down Strange and hold him accountable.