DETROIT, Mich. (WNEM/Gray News) – A former employee of Marshall Mathers, more popularly known as Eminem, has been charged in a criminal complaint after he allegedly sold the rapper’s unreleased music.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Michigan, Joseph Strange, a 46-year-old man from Holly, was charged with criminal infringement of a copyright and interstate transportation of stolen goods after he allegedly sold Eminem’s unreleased music.
Strange was Eminem’s employee from 2007 until 2021.
The criminal complaint states on or about Jan. 16, the FBI was contacted by Eminem’s employees at a Ferndale music studio after it was discovered his unreleased music that was still in development was found on the internet, the attorney’s office said.
The employees obtained a picture of a list of music Eminem created but hadn’t released that was for sale online through various internet sites, the attorney’s office said.
The employees said they recognized the image as a photo that was taken directly from a hard drive in the Ferndale music studio.
The FBI identified and located several people who bought the unreleased music who told them Strange was selling the music, the attorney’s office said.
If Strange is convicted of the criminal infringement of a copyright charge, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
If convicted of the interstate transportation of stolen goods charge, he faces a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
The attorney’s office said a complaint is only a charge and isn’t evidence of guilt, and a trial can’t be held on felony charges in a complaint.
Upon completion of the investigation, it will be determined if a felony indictment will be sought.
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