DETROIT (WWJ) -- A Michigan man is facing prison time after admitting to stealing and selling unreleased music by rapper Eminem.
Federal prosecutors said 48-year-old Joseph Strange, of Holly, worked for Marshall Mathers (Eminem's formal name) from 2007 to 2021 at a recording studio in Ferndale, where Eminem created and developed music intended for future release.
In his role, Strange helped with operating a computer system that stored Eminem's work and maintained access to password-protected hard drives containing unreleased music.
Without permission, the feds said Strange copied 10 or more audio files containing music and material in various stages of development from the drives.
Between July and August 2024, Strange sold and transmitted 10 or more of those stolen files to online buyers without Mathers's knowledge or consent, profiting approximately $50,000.
The sold audio files were eventually leaked online and posted across public streaming platforms. Government records indicate that while commercial release was not guaranteed, professional efforts — including studio mastering — had been made to prepare some tracks.
Investigators said data from streaming providers revealed that as of November 2025, the infringing files had been accessed over eight million times, with the estimated infringement value totaling at least $750,000.
“Joseph Strange abused a position of trust to unlawfully copy and sell unreleased music belonging to Eminem, profiting from works that were not yet authorized for public distribution,” said Assistant Attorney General Tysen Duva, of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, in a statement.
“His conduct undermined both legal and artistic rights. The Criminal Division remains committed to protecting intellectual property, holding accountable those who seek to profit from theft of creative content, and working with our law enforcement partners to deter and disrupt these crimes.”
Strange faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison when he's sentenced on jan. 27, 2027.
“Detroit has always been a city where creativity thrives, and no one has the right to steal or profit from another artist’s work without their permission,” said Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan of the FBI Detroit Field Office.
“Today’s guilty plea reinforces a simple principle: accountability follows those who compromise the integrity of another person’s creative labor. I want to commend the outstanding work of our FBI Oakland County Resident Agency and the entire investigative team, whose persistence and professionalism drove this case forward. We also appreciate the cooperation of Mathers Music Studio throughout the investigation. Protecting intellectual property means protecting the time, talent, and livelihoods behind it, and we will continue to treat these violations with the seriousness they deserve.”
