Joseph Strange, a former sound engineer for American rapper Eminem, has been charged with copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen goods after allegedly leaking and selling 25 unreleased songs for $50,000 in Bitcoin (BTC). The 46-year-old engineer, who worked at Eminem's studio in Ferndale, Michigan, from 2017 to 2021, violated a severance agreement that explicitly prohibited him from distributing the artist's music.
Details of the Leak
According to prosecutors cited by The New York Times, Strange sold 25 songs written by Eminem between 1999 and 2018 to an unidentified Canadian buyer in 2024. The payment was made in Bitcoin, which the buyer claimed was raised by a group of Eminem fans. The songs were originally stored on hard drives in the studio that were never connected to the internet for security reasons.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan charged Strange after current employees discovered the leaked music on YouTube and Reddit. An FBI affidavit revealed that employees recognized the songs as those stored on the studio's isolated hard drives. After Eminem became aware of the leak, a warning issued on social media prompted a tipster to identify the Canadian buyer. The buyer confessed to purchasing all 25 songs from Strange and cooperating with investigators.
FBI Investigation and Raid
FBI agents raided Strange's home in January 2025, recovering original handwritten lyric sheets by Eminem among other evidence. The investigation traced the Bitcoin transactions, which provided a digital trail despite the cryptocurrency's perceived anonymity. Strange faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted on the interstate transportation charge. Through his lawyer, Strange stated that he “will seek justice and fairness in the courtroom.”
Broader Implications
This case highlights the dual nature of cryptocurrencies in illicit activities. While Bitcoin enables pseudonymous payments, its blockchain ledger offers law enforcement a transparent record of transactions. The music industry is also reminded of the need for strict internal security protocols, especially for offline storage of unreleased material. The leaked songs have circulated among Eminem's fan base, though the artist's team has worked to remove them from online platforms.