Two Wisconsin men were charged with stealing a rare Stradivarius violin worth millions of dollars from a concert violinist in late January, prosecutors said on Friday.
The violin, which was made in 1715 and had an appraised value of $5 million for insurance purposes, was recovered late Wednesday from a Milwaukee residence, where it had been stored in a suitcase in the attic, police said.
Universal Knowledge Allah, 36, who was also charged with marijuana possession, and Salah Jones, 41, are due in a Milwaukee County District Court on Friday for an initial hearing. A 32-year-old woman was also arrested in connection with the crime, but she has not been charged.
Early last week, the thieves took the violin after incapacitating concert musician Frank Almond with a stun gun following a concert in suburban Milwaukee, authorities said.
The owner of the house where the instrument was found told authorities that one of the suspects had asked to leave the suitcase there and the homeowner agreed, unaware of what was inside, according to police.
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