Mafia associate admits to collecting money in state

NEW HAVEN (AP) - A 73-year-old associate of the Gambino crime family admitted Thursday that he collected debts for Connecticut's top Mob boss, but he took issue with his nickname and asked for more time to spend with his elderly mother.

Nicola Melia, who pleaded guilty to racketeering, was a relatively minor player charged in a sweeping indictment last year that accused 18 reputed Mob members and associates of racketeering, extortion and illegal gambling. But Melia's nicknames gave him more notoriety. Speaking in a hoarse voice and sporting a neat brown suit with matching shoes, Melia said he was simply known as Nick.

Judge Janet Bond Arterton noted that the indictment referred to him as "The Greaseball" and "The Old Man." "That's incorrect," Melia said. "I've never heard that before. I've been arrested before." His attorney, H. James Pickerstein, explained that Melia might be referred to by those names when he is not present.

Melia, a Stamford resident who emigrated from Italy 50 years ago with virtually no formal schooling, admitted he tried to collect a $2,500 loan but said he wound up paying the loan when his friend didn't pay up. Pickerstein said a conversation intercepted by investigators suggested steps would be taken to enforce payment of the loan. "I'm going to do what I gotta do," Melia said, according to his attorney.