# Joseph Strange Eminem music theft case > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/joseph-strange-eminem-music-theft-case > Updated: 2026-10-26T22:57:09.000Z. Sources: 26. Developments: 2. Joseph Strange, a former sound engineer for Eminem who worked at the Mathers Music Studio in Ferndale, Michigan, from 2007 to 2021, has pleaded guilty to federal criminal copyright infringement. Court documents and the U.S. Department of Justice indicate that Strange used his access to password-protected hard drives to copy unreleased recordings, including demos, rough drafts, and mastered tracks created between 1999 and 2018. During the summer of 2024, he sold at least 10 of these audio files online for approximately $50,000. The leaked material, which included collaborations with artists such as Dr. Dre and 50 Cent, reportedly garnered over eight million views online by late 2025. An FBI search of Strange’s residence in early 2025 uncovered handwritten lyric sheets, a VHS tape containing an unreleased music video, and hard drives containing an estimated 12,000 copied audio files. Prosecutors estimate the financial damage from the infringement at least $750,000. Strange faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for early 2027. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-26: Former Eminem engineer pleads guilty to stealing unreleased music Former Eminem engineer Joseph Strange pleaded guilty to stealing and selling unreleased music files for $50,000. He faces sentencing in early 2027 following an FBI investigation. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/former-eminem-engineer-pleads-guilty-to-stealing-unreleased-music ### 2026-10-22: Joseph Strange pleads guilty to selling Eminem's unreleased music Former Eminem employee Joseph Strange pleaded guilty to federal copyright infringement for selling unreleased music online for $50,000. He faces up to five years in prison. 22 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/former-eminem-employee-pleads-guilty-to-copyright-infringement --- Cite as: Joseph Strange Eminem music theft case. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/joseph-strange-eminem-music-theft-case