Eminem's Former Engineer Charged with Music Theft, Selling for Bitcoin

Joseph M. Strange, a former employee of rapper Eminem, has been charged with criminal copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods after allegedly selling unreleased music online. The investigation was initiated following a tip from current employees of Eminem's studio who discovered the stolen music circulating on the internet. Strange, who worked for Eminem from 2007 to 2021, reportedly sold the music for thousands in cryptocurrency, with evidence linking him to a buyer using the alias 'Doja Rat.' Prosecutors revealed that the stolen music was stored on password-protected hard drives not accessible to the internet, and the FBI uncovered additional items, including handwritten lyrics and other unreleased recordings, during their investigation. Eminem's spokesperson criticized the leaks, stating that the released songs were unfinished works not intended for public consumption. The charges carry serious penalties, with a potential maximum of ten years in prison for the most severe counts.