The Federal Bureau of Investigation has arrested American singer Michael Smith for allegedly earning $10 million in royalties through fraudulent bot streams.
Smith is accused of using artificial intelligence tools and bots to stream his songs billions of times, manipulating the system for profit.
He faces three charges: wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
In a news release, the Justice Department stated that each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
“As alleged, Michael Smith fraudulently streamed songs created with artificial intelligence billions of times to wrongfully acquire royalties,” the release reported.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated, “Through his audacious scheme, Smith stole millions in royalties that rightfully belonged to other artists whose songs were legitimately streamed.
“Thanks to the FBI and the dedicated prosecutors of this Office, it’s time for Smith to face the consequences of his actions.”
