Robert Miller sold phony certificates for $500 to $2,500 to massage parlor operators throughout New Jersey.
NEWARK -- A former councilman in Westwood and Ridgewood Wednesday pleaded guilty to selling phony massage therapy training certificates to operators of massage parlors set up as fronts for prostitution, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.
Robert W. Miller, 67, of Westwood, admitted guilt before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to a charge of promoting prostitution, according to the office.
Miller was a Westwood councilman for seven years until 2015 and also was a councilman in Ridgewood from 1996-1998, it said.
According to court filings, Miller created at least 50 phony certificates claiming that individuals met the certification requirements to be licensed massage therapists. He sold them for $500 to $2,500, records said.
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The New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy requires at least 500 hours of study, including 100 hours of supervised clinical practice, or passage of a nationally certified test before the applicant can become a licensed massage therapist.
According to the court record, Miller sold the licenses to massage parlors in Union, Passaic, Hudson and Middlesex counties.
It says he told operators he would give them advance notice if he learned about any prostitution-related investigations by law enforcement.
Miller, who ran a consulting firm helping small businesses with day-to-day operations, was involved in promoting prostitution from 1997-2013, the court record says.
A message left with Miller's attorney was not immediately returned.
Miller faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to Fishman's office.
As part of his plea agreement, it said, Miller will forfeit $95,926 in proceeds derived from the scheme. He is scheduled to be sentenced May 19.
Tim Darragh may be reached at tdarragh@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @timdarragh. Find NJ.com on Facebook.