Crime & Safety

Stamford Man With Mob Connections Indicted for Extortion

Nicola "Nick" Melia is facing five counts of collecting extensions of credit by extortionate means

A New Haven federal grand jury has indicted Nicola Melia, 78, of Brushwood Road, Stamford, with five counts of collecting extensions of credit by extortionate means.

Melia, who was on March 23 after an investigation by the and the FBI, made “street loans” to an individual in Fairfield County at high interest rates, according to the allegations set forth in the indictment and statements previously made in court.

On five separate occasions between November 14, 2010, and January 30, 2011, according to a press release from David B. Fein, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Melia threatened this individual that he/she would be subject to violence if these debts were not paid.

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If convicted, Melia, who has well-known connections to the Stamford Gambino crime family, faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine up to $250,000, on each count.

Melia's son Philip was also arrested on March 23 for on assault charges following an incident that occurred last April.

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