Free Republic

One of the two Milwaukee men involved in the January armed robbery that briefly netted them a $5 million Stradivarius violin was sentenced Thursday to 31/2 years in prison. Universal K. Allah, 37, pleaded guilty in May to robbery as a party to a crime. In addition to his prison term, Allah will remain under extended supervision for another 31/2 years, must avoid contact with the people involved in the attack and pay $4,014.57 in lost wages and ambulance fees to Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Frank Almond. Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Dennis P. Moroney called Allah's actions egregious and said...

The 300-year-old Stradivarius violin that was taken from the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra's concertmaster in an armed robbery last month has been found and will be returned to its owner later Thursday, authorities said. Three suspects — two men, ages 42 and 36, and a woman, 32 — were arrested Monday morning at their respective Milwaukee residences and remain in police custody. Milwaukee police Chief Edward Flynn said at a news conference Thursday afternoon that the violin was found in a suitcase in an attic of a city residence, with the help of tips from citizens and information received from Taser...

Three people have been arrested in connection with the robbery of a priceless Stradivarius violin, but the instrument has not been found, police said Wednesday. The three suspects — two men, ages 42 and 36, and a woman, 32 — were arrested Monday morning at their respective Milwaukee residences and remained in police custody Wednesday. One of the suspects has been linked to a prior art theft. The violin, crafted in 1715 and known as the Lipinski Strad after a former owner, was stolen from Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Frank Almond during an armed robbery Jan. 27. Almond had played...