Milwaukee man pleads guilty in theft of $5M violin

Wccb Charlotte Sept 2025 Icon 512x512

MILWAUKEE (AP) β€” One of two Milwaukee men accused in the theft of a $5 million Stradivarius violin has pleaded guilty to robbery.

Online court records say 36-year-old Universal K. Allah was convicted Wednesday morning. His sentencing hearing is set for late July.

He and Salah (suh-LAH’) Salahadyn (suh-LAH’-ha-deen) were charged with felony robbery in the case. Salahadyn pleaded not guilty, and is scheduled for another plea hearing on June 30.

A criminal complaint says Allah provided the stun gun used to attack and rob a violin concertmaster in Milwaukee in January. The complaint says Salahadyn had been plotting to steal a Stradivarius.

The 300-year-old violin was missing for nine days before police recovered it in good condition.

A message left with Allah’s public defender, Paul Ksicinski (chuh-CHIN’-skee), was not immediately returned.