NEW YORK (AP) — Martin Shkreli, once known as “Pharma Bro” for raising the price of a life-saving drug, was instructed by a federal judge on Monday to hand over all copies of Wu-Tang Clan’s unreleased album “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” to his attorneys by Friday.
Judge Pamela K. Chen in Brooklyn ordered Shkreli to provide all copies of the album, often referred to as the world’s rarest album, and to disclose the names of individuals he shared the music with by September 30, along with any profits he made from it.
In June, Shkreli was sued by a group of cryptocurrency investors who purchased the only existing copy of the album for $4.75 million.
The collective, PleasrDAO, alleged that Shkreli violated their agreement by keeping digital copies of the album and distributing them widely among his social media followers.
Attorney Steven Cooper of PleasrDAO stated that Judge Chen’s decision was “a significant win for our client.”
Cooper added, “We are gratified that Judge Chen recognized the need for immediate action to prevent further misconduct by Mr. Shkreli.”
Edward Paltzik, Shkreli’s lawyer, mentioned in an email that the judge’s order maintains the current state of the lawsuit and does not impact the final outcome of the case.
He also clarified that the judge did not determine whether PleasrDAO was likely to succeed in their claims or if their allegations were true.
The Wu-Tang Clan spent six years creating “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” and auctioned off the sole copy of the 31-track double album in 2015 under the condition that it would not be publicly released. The renowned hip-hop group intended for it to be regarded as a piece of modern art.
Shkreli purchased the album for $2 million before his conviction for defrauding investors and embezzling millions of dollars in two failed hedge funds he managed.
In 2021, “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” was sold to satisfy some of Shkreli’s court debts.
Shkreli was released from prison in 2022 after serving a significant portion of his seven-year sentence.
