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STAMFORD, Conn. Stamford resident Nicola Nick Melia pleaded guilty to extortion and possession of ammunition charges Monday in U.S. District Court in New Haven, U.S. Attorney David B. Fein said in a statement.
Between 2000 and 2010, Melia made several high-interest street loans to an individual in Fairfield County, the statement said. The person later recorded conversations in which Melia threatened physical harm if payments werent made in a timely fashion, the statement said.
Melia is quoted as saying, Were going to have a lot of problems because the Bonanno family. They are connected to the Bonanno family. They dont want to wait, and they use rough muscle. They got a big crew ... they go in the house and they kill people.
Authorities found 40 bullets during a search of Melias home after arresting him in March. Melia previously had been convicted of federal charges that made it a felony for him to have ammunition.
Melia is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 8. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for extortion and 10 years for the possession charge, the statement said.
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