Federal prosecutors have charged Joseph Strange, a former sound engineer for rap icon Eminem, with stealing and illegally distributing the artist’s unreleased music in exchange for cryptocurrency. The charges were announced Wednesday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, following a multi-year investigation.
According to court filings, Strange allegedly obtained and sold 25 unfinished tracks from Eminem’s private recording sessions without authorization. The complaint states that Strange, who worked at Eminem’s Effigy Studios in Michigan between 2007 and 2021, sold the unreleased songs to a Canadian buyer for approximately $50,000 worth of Bitcoin.
The charges include criminal copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen property, with prosecutors alleging Strange knowingly distributed copyrighted material without permission. The investigation began after staff at Effigy Studios discovered the leaked tracks circulating on platforms such as YouTube and Reddit, prompting FBI involvement.
Prosecutors emphasized that Strange’s actions not only violated intellectual property laws but also posed financial risks to the artist’s brand and creative output.
“According to the criminal complaint, on or about January 16, 2025, the FBI was contacted by employees of Mathers’s music studio in Ferndale, Michigan who recently discovered unreleased music created by Mathers that was available on the internet,” the release stated.
“This music was still in the process of being developed by Mathers. The employees obtained an image of a list of the music that Mathers had created, but not released, and was for sale through various internet sites.”
FBI Uncover Stolen Materials
According to federal prosecutors, investigators recovered hard drives containing copies of Eminem’s unreleased music, handwritten lyric sheets authored by the rapper, and a rare VHS tape holding an unreleased music video, all uncovered during a search conducted by FBI agents at Joseph Strange’s Michigan residence earlier this year.
Court documents reveal that Strange was one of only four employees with direct access to sensitive production materials at Effigy Studios, where he worked from 2007 to 2021. Authorities allege that Strange exploited this access to illegally extract and distribute Eminem’s proprietary content. The affidavit also highlights that Strange’s uncle, Mike Strange, is among the other studio engineers with access but is not implicated in the case.
Further linking Strange to the unauthorized sales, investigators uncovered financial records detailing Bitcoin transactions allegedly tied to the stolen music. Prosecutors allege that Strange sold 25 unreleased tracks to a Canadian buyer identified as “Doja Rat” for approximately $50,000 in cryptocurrency. According to the FBI, the buyer disclosed that the funds were crowdsourced from a community of Eminem fans, and that Strange had claimed possession of over 300 additional unreleased recordings and handwritten lyrics.
If convicted, Strange faces up to 10 years in prison for interstate transportation of stolen goods and a maximum of five years for criminal copyright infringement. He could also be ordered to pay fines totaling up to $250,000.
Allegations Disputed as Case Develops
Court filings allege that Joseph Strange insisted on receiving cryptocurrency payments for the unauthorized sale of Eminem’s unreleased music. According to witness testimony included in the complaint, Strange was described as being “heavily involved” in Bitcoin and Bitcoin mining activities and conducted transactions exclusively in digital assets.
Strange’s legal team, however, has pushed back against the allegations. In a statement, his attorney Wade Fink emphasized that the criminal complaint represents unproven accusations, pointing out that the case has yet to proceed to trial.
“We haven’t even been in a courtroom yet let alone had the allegations tested by a judge or jury. That’s where these allegations belong,” Fink stated.
Meanwhile, representatives from Eminem’s camp expressed the broader impact of the alleged theft. A longtime spokesman for the rapper commented:
“The significant damage caused by a trusted employee to Eminem’s artistic legacy and creative integrity cannot be overstated, let alone the enormous financial losses incurred by the many creators and collaborators that deserve protection for their decades of work.”
Quick Facts:
- Joseph Strange, a former sound engineer for Eminem, has been charged with criminal copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen property.
- Prosecutors allege Strange sold 25 unreleased Eminem tracks to a Canadian buyer for $50,000 worth of Bitcoin.
- The FBI recovered stolen music files, handwritten lyrics, and financial records during a search of Strange’s residence.
- If convicted, Strange faces up to 10 years in prison and fines totaling up to $250,000.
