Music Producer's Assistant Arrested for Illegally Selling Unreleased Tracks Online
Eminem's Former Studio Engineer Charged with Selling Stolen Tracks for Bitcoin
A former studio engineer who worked with Eminem has been charged with selling stolen music tracks for bitcoin.
According to court documents, Stefan Robbers, 41, has been accused of stealing tracks from several artists, including Eminem, and selling them online for cryptocurrency. Robbers worked as a studio engineer at F.B.T. Productions, Eminem's recording studio, from 2011 to 2014.
Prosecutors claim that Robbers stole tracks from Eminem, as well as other artists, including Dr. Dre and Slaughterhouse, and sold them on online marketplaces. The stolen tracks included unreleased music, as well as master recordings of songs that had already been released.
Robbers allegedly used the online alias "Kazaa" to sell the stolen tracks, and would often provide fake credentials and false information to buyers to make it seem like he was the original artist.
The investigation into Robbers' activities was launched after Eminem's team noticed that some of his unreleased tracks were being sold online. Authorities were able to trace the stolen tracks back to Robbers, who was arrested in April and charged with multiple counts of copyright infringement and theft.
Robbers is currently being held in a Michigan jail pending a trial, which is expected to take place later this year. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
The case highlights the growing problem of music piracy, particularly in the digital age. As more and more music is being made available online, it's becoming increasingly important for artists and record labels to take steps to protect their intellectual property.
In a statement, Eminem's team said: "We are pleased that the authorities have taken swift action to bring this individual to justice. We will continue to work with law enforcement to ensure that those who seek to profit from our music are held accountable."