Joseph Strange faces felony charge in Eminem music theft case

Federal prosecutors have filed a one-count criminal information against Joseph Strange, a former audio engineer at Eminem’s Effigy recording studio, signaling a potential negotiated guilty plea. The new filing replaces previous charges of copyright infringement and interstate transportation of stolen property, which carried a combined potential sentence of 15 years.

Strange is accused of willfully copying and distributing at least 10 unauthorized copies of Eminem’s copyrighted music for commercial advantage and personal financial gain between July 2024 and January 2025. The stolen material, which allegedly includes more than two dozen unreleased songs recorded between 1999 and 2018, has a combined retail value exceeding $2,500, meeting the federal threshold for felony copyright infringement.

Prosecutors have indicated intentions to seize property used to commit the offense and any assets purchased with the proceeds. While the new filing simplifies the charges into a single felony count, a formal plea agreement, recommended sentence, or official admission of guilt has not yet been finalized in court.