Crime & Safety

Stamford Man Arrested for Making 'Street' Loans [Update]

Convicted loan shark Nick Melia was arrested early Wednesday morning on extortion charges. His son Phillip was also arrested on assault charges.

A Stamford man, who had been convicted of federal racketeering charges back in 2005, was arrested Wednesday morning after a lengthy investigation by the and the FBI.

Nicola Melia, 78, of Brushwood Road, Stamford, was arrested on a federal criminal complaint charging him with collection of an extension of credit by extortionate means, according to a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Justice.

Melia, according to officials, allegedly made “street loans” to an individual in Fairfield County at high interest rates. He also made threats that he/she would be subject to violence if these debts were not paid.

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Melia appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons in Bridgeport and was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for March 28. Melia faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000 if he is convicted. Melia previously served 33 months in federal prison on the racketeering conviction in 2005.

Melia's son Philip, 39, of 56 Stony Brook Drive, was also arrested Wednesday morning on assault charges following an incident that occurred last April.

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According to Capt. Richard Conklin, Melia approached a man sitting in a truck on 45 Liberty Street, jumped on the running boards and smashed out the vehicle's windows with a metal tool. Melia physically beat the man, Conklin said, and when the victim tried to escape, he suffered further injuries that required hospital treatment.

Melia was arrested for first-degree assault and criminal mischief and his bond was set at $250,000. He is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.

Please check back with Patch for further updates to this story.


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