ST. LOUIS – A man is behind bars after he allegedly stole a $10,000 microphone from a St. Louis studio. He was caught several months later trying to buy its specialized power cord.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office has charged Michael Eugene Smith, 27, with one felony count of stealing ($750 or more) in connection with the case.

The charge dates back to an incident on June 28, 2024, at the Phat Buddha recording studio at 1901 Locust Street, according to court documents obtained by FOX 2.

Investigators say a suspect, later identified as Smith, came into the studio and recorded music for half an hour under the name of “Spike Lee.” At some point, Smith used the bathroom, but he didn’t return to the studio.

A witness at the studio then realized a Neumann U67 microphone valued around $10,000 was missing. The witness reviewed surveillance video, which reportedly showed Smith put the microphone in his pocket and leave the studio.

The stolen microphone requires a highly-specific power cord to be used. Witnesses later learned that a cord that matched with the microphone at the studio was not stolen.

Several months later, on Oct. 10, 2024, Smith reportedly attempted to order the proper power cord. The distributor then contacted the studio, knowing that the cord went with the studio’s stolen microphone, after Smith passed a fraud screening, per court documents.

After that, a police report was filed, and investigators then determined that Smith’s phone number he provided when he booked the studio was the same phone number he used when he attempted to purchase a new power cord from the distributor.

Smith was later arrested on an unrelated charge, though he was officially charged in the stolen microphone case on Friday. He was booked into jail in St. Louis without bond.