(WXYZ) — A former employee of Detroit rapper Eminem is facing federal charges due to allegations of theft and selling unreleased music, which subsequently surfaced online.
Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck stated that Joseph Strange, 46, from Holly, is charged with criminal copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen property.
Prosecutors allege that Strange stole unreleased tracks created by Eminem, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, and sold them online.
Earlier in January, Billboard reported that Eminem’s spokesperson expressed concerns regarding the recent leaks of songs from Eminem’s collection. “These leaked tracks were not intended for public release… they are outdated demos and experimental ideas,” spokesperson Dennis Dennehy told Billboard. “This is yet another instance of unfinished material being released without the artist’s consent.”
Dennehy also remarked to 7 News Detroit:
“Eminem and his team are grateful for the FBI Detroit bureau’s exhaustive investigation that led to the charges against Joseph Strange. The serious harm inflicted by a trusted employee on Eminem’s creative legacy and financial well-being cannot be understated. We will persist in taking all necessary measures to defend Eminem’s work.”
According to prosecutors, the FBI received a report in mid-January from staff at Eminem’s studio in Ferndale, who found the unreleased music online. They also discovered an image of a list of music from a hard drive, which indicated unauthorized access to secure materials.
Strange reportedly worked for Eminem from 2007 until 2021, with only a few individuals having access to the hard drives, including sound engineers and the manager. A criminal complaint revealed that Eminem sought help from a UK associate, Fred Nasser, who warned fans about the leaks. It is claimed that “Doja Rat,” who bought songs from Strange, paid around $50,000 for the music.
Following the leak, employees reviewed the studio’s hard drives and found a list of songs that matched the leaked material, stored securely and not accessed in years. Further investigations suggested that someone in Ontario, Canada, connected with a group to purchase songs from Strange using Bitcoin over several months. Strange’s home was searched, revealing hand-written lyrics, unreleased tracks, and thousands of audio files.
“Safeguarding intellectual property from theft is crucial for protecting creators’ rights,” Beck stated. FBI Special Agent Cheyvoryea Gibson emphasized the FBI’s dedication to protecting artists’ intellectual property from exploitation, highlighting the collaboration with Mathers Music Studio that facilitated quick action against Joseph Strange.
