Joseph Strange, 48, of Holly, who was formerly employed by the artist and musician Marshall Mathers (also known as Eminem), pleaded guilty in the Eastern District of Michigan to a charge related to his role in the reproduction and sale of unreleased music created by Eminem.
“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 A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “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.”
According to court documents, Strange was an employee of Mathers from approximately 2007 until 2021. During Strange’s employment, he worked at a studio in Ferndale that Mathers used to create and develop music for future sale and distribution.
During his employment, Strange helped set up and operate a computer system that stored music created by Mathers.
Strange had access to password-protected hard drives that contained music in the process of being developed by Mathers and that was not yet meant to be released to the public.
At some point Strange — without authority — copied 10 or more audio files of music and material in various stages of development from one or more of these drives.
Between July and August of 2024, Strange sold and transmitted 10 or more of these music files to purchasers via the internet for a total of approximately $50,000. Strange did so without Mathers’s knowledge or authorization.
Audio files sold by Strange were ultimately released online and made available on various public streaming platforms, without the permission or prior knowledge of Mathers.
According to facts alleged by the government, while no commercial release of the music or material within these files was imminent or even certain, professional efforts had been made to prepare some of the music for possible commercial release, in some cases including studio mastering.
Data provided by several streaming providers evidenced that, as of November 2025, infringing audio files identified by the government had been accessed more than eight million times. The infringement amount of the stolen files is estimated to be at least $750,000.
Strange pleaded guilty to criminal infringement of a copyright. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 27 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
“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 A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “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.”
According to court documents, Strange was an employee of Mathers from approximately 2007 until 2021. During Strange’s employment, he worked at a studio in Ferndale that Mathers used to create and develop music for future sale and distribution.
During his employment, Strange helped set up and operate a computer system that stored music created by Mathers.
Strange had access to password-protected hard drives that contained music in the process of being developed by Mathers and that was not yet meant to be released to the public.
At some point Strange — without authority — copied 10 or more audio files of music and material in various stages of development from one or more of these drives.
Between July and August of 2024, Strange sold and transmitted 10 or more of these music files to purchasers via the internet for a total of approximately $50,000. Strange did so without Mathers’s knowledge or authorization.
Audio files sold by Strange were ultimately released online and made available on various public streaming platforms, without the permission or prior knowledge of Mathers.
According to facts alleged by the government, while no commercial release of the music or material within these files was imminent or even certain, professional efforts had been made to prepare some of the music for possible commercial release, in some cases including studio mastering.
Data provided by several streaming providers evidenced that, as of November 2025, infringing audio files identified by the government had been accessed more than eight million times. The infringement amount of the stolen files is estimated to be at least $750,000.
Strange pleaded guilty to criminal infringement of a copyright. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 27 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
https://www.legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
