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AI Streaming Fraudster Pleads Guilty, Faces 5-Year Sentence

3/21/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Michael Smith pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for orchestrating a large AI-driven streaming fraud scheme, facing a maximum five-year sentence and forfeiture of $8,091,843.64.
The scheme created hundreds of thousands of AI-generated songs and used automated bots to inflate streams.
The operation averaged about 660,000 fake streams daily and earned more than $1.2 million annually.
Sentencing is set for July 29, 2026.

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Story summary

Michael Smith pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for orchestrating a large AI-driven streaming fraud scheme, facing a maximum five-year sentence and forfeiture of $8,091,843.64.
The scheme created hundreds of thousands of AI-generated songs and used automated bots to inflate streams.
The operation averaged about 660,000 fake streams daily and earned more than $1.2 million annually.
Sentencing is set for July 29, 2026.