Eminem's Former Employee Pleads Guilty to Selling Unreleased Music for $50K

A former employee of Eminem pleaded guilty to federal criminal copyright infringement after admitting he copied the rapper's unreleased music from password-protected studio hard drives and sold recordings online for approximately $50,000. The material later appeared on streaming platforms, where it was accessed more than eight million times.

Joseph Strange, 48, of Holly, Michigan, entered the plea in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, according to an October 22, 2026, announcement from the Justice Department. Prosecutors estimate the infringement amount at least $750,000. Strange faces a maximum of five years in federal prison when he is sentenced on January 27, 2027.

Strange worked for Eminem, whose legal name is Marshall Mathers, from approximately 2007 to 2021 at a recording studio in Ferndale, Michigan. His responsibilities included helping establish and operate the computer systems used to store the rapper's music, giving him access to password-protected drives containing recordings in various stages of development.

Federal prosecutors said Strange used that access to copy at least 10 audio files without authorization. Between July and August 2024, roughly three years after his employment ended, he sold and transmitted at least 10 files to buyers over the internet, receiving approximately $50,000.

The recordings subsequently circulated online and became available through public streaming services without Eminem's knowledge or permission. Data obtained from several streaming providers showed that the infringing files had been accessed more than eight million times as of November 2025.

Some of the music had already undergone professional preparation for possible commercial release, including studio mastering. Prosecutors said an official release was neither imminent nor certain, leaving the artist's plans for the unfinished material unresolved when the recordings surfaced publicly.

The FBI investigation began after Eminem's studio discovered in January 2025 that unreleased recordings were circulating online and being offered for sale. Investigators identified several purchasers who allegedly obtained the music from Strange, eventually connecting the former employee to the unauthorized distribution.

During the investigation, federal agents searched Strange's home and recovered electronic storage devices containing unreleased Eminem recordings, along with handwritten lyrics and other material associated with the rapper's work. The evidence formed part of the investigation that led to Strange's arrest in March 2025.

Strange initially faced charges of criminal copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods. His guilty plea concerns the copyright infringement count, which addresses the willful, unauthorized reproduction or distribution of protected creative works under circumstances covered by federal criminal law.

The $750,000 infringement amount cited by prosecutors is separate from the approximately $50,000 Strange admitted receiving from buyers. The larger figure reflects the government's estimated value of the infringement rather than his personal proceeds from the sales.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva said Strange exploited the trust placed in him during his employment to profit from recordings that Eminem had not authorized for release.

“Joseph Strange abused a position of trust to unlawfully copy and sell unreleased music belonging to Eminem,” Duva said, adding that the conduct harmed the rapper's legal and artistic rights.

Strange's sentence will be determined by a federal judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 27, 2027.