Brief
Federal prosecutors seek 46 months for North Carolina AI music fraudster Michael Smith
Smith allegedly used AI‑generated songs and bot accounts to stream billions of times, earning millions from royalty pools.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Manhattan federal prosecutors have filed a letter urging a judge to sentence Michael Smith, a North Carolina resident, to a minimum of 46 months in prison for an AI‑driven music‑streaming fraud scheme.
According to Rolling Stone, Smith created thousands of fictitious songs by invented artists using artificial intelligence and then employed an army of bot accounts to stream the tracks on platforms such as Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music and YouTube Music. The inflated streams allegedly siphoned millions of dollars from royalty pools intended for legitimate artists.
Prosecutors cite an April 2023 comparison in which Taylor Swift’s catalog received 9.3 million YouTube Music family‑plan streams, while Smith’s catalog logged 80.9 million. They estimate Smith pocketed more than $8 million in unearned royalties over a six‑year period.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas W. Chiuchiolo and Kevin B. Mead wrote that a “substantial term of incarceration” is needed to send a clear message that streaming fraud will be punished. Smith’s defense has asked for probation only, while federal probation officials have recommended 24 months in prison. Smith’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 6 in Manhattan federal court.
Key facts
- Prosecutors are seeking at least 46 months in prison for Michael Smith. (rollingstone.com)
- Smith allegedly generated over $8 million in unearned streaming royalties. (rollingstone.com)
- Sentencing is set for Oct. 6 in Manhattan federal court. (rollingstone.com)
Sources
- [1] rollingstone.com — originally reported as “Feds Want Nearly 4 Years in Prison for AI Music Fraudster Who 'Stole Millions'”
