Mike Smith was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison on October 6, 2026, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud tied to music streaming. The North Carolina musician and business owner appeared in Manhattan federal court, where Judge John G. Koeltl also ordered two years of supervised release. Smith must also forfeit $8 million connected to the scheme. Prosecutors requested 46 months behind bars, while Smith's attorneys pushed for probation, making the year and a half sentence a middle ground between both sides. How Did the Streaming Scheme Work? Before sentencing, Smith told the court that he wanted to be a good husband, father, musician, and member of society, but admitted that his actions had badly damaged that goal. The father of six also acknowledged that he had turned his passion for music into what he described as a deeply distorted business model. Federal prosecutors said Smith used automated bots between 2017 and 2024 to generate millions of unauthorized plays for his own songs and AI generated tracks he had purchased and uploaded. Smith's guilty plea covered one conspiracy count with a maximum sentence of five years, while prosecutors said the case's $8 million in unearned royalties should send a clear warning to anyone trying to manipulate the streaming economy.