Eminem's former employee accused of selling unreleased tracks online: Charges explained

Joseph Strange, Eminem's former employee, has been accused of selling the rapper’s unreleased songs. Strange worked with Slim Shady from 2007 to 2021 as a sound engineer.

According to the information shared by Eminem's employees, Strange was able to steal his 25 unreleased songs between 2019 and 2020, which he later sold to Slim Shady's fans. WXYZ Detroit reported that Strange was paid around $50,000 worth of Bitcoin for the music.

The theft came to notice when the unfinished songs, on which Marshall Mathers was working, appeared online. On investigation, the FBI found evidence against Strange, which indicated that he had shared the songs without Eminem's permission. The unreleased songs were kept in password-protected hard drives in the Ferndale studio in Michigan.

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Joseph Strange will spend 15 years in jail if found guilty of selling Eminem's unreleased songs

The Acting United States Attorney, Julie Beck, released a statement on Eminem's case on March 19 that said:

"Joseph Strange, 46, of Holly, Michigan and a former employee of Marshall Mathers, AKA Eminem, was charged in a criminal complaint with criminal infringement of a copyright and interstate transportation of stolen goods in connection with the sale of unreleased music created by Eminem."

She added:

"Protecting intellectual property from thieves is critical in safeguarding the exclusive rights of creators and protecting their original work from reproduction and distribution by individuals who seek to profit from the creative output of others."

The Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan, Cheyvoryea Gibson, gave further details:

"This investigation underscores the FBI’s commitment to safeguarding artists' intellectual property from exploitation by individuals seeking to profit illegally. Thanks to the cooperation of Mathers Music Studio, FBI agents from the Oakland County Resident Agency were able to swiftly enforce federal laws and ensure Joseph Strange was held accountable for his actions."

If Strange is found guilty of copyright infringement, he has to pay a fine of up to $250,000 along with spending five years in prison. In case he is found guilty of interstate transportation of stolen goods, he has to spend up to 10 years in prison. This adds up to a total of 15 years.

However, the final sentence will depend on the court’s decision. As of now, Strange has only been accused of selling Eminem's unreleased songs. The investigation is still ongoing.

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Investigation in the case is being handled by the FBI Oakland County Resident Agency and U.S. attorneys Timothy Wyse and Alyse Wu.