Bergen Man Admits Faking Massage Certificates For Prostitutes

A Bergen County man Wednesday admitted producing and selling fraudulent massage therapy training certificates for massage parlors that engaged in prostitution, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Naresh Rane, 64, plead guilty to knowingly and intentionally using and causing the use of facilities in interstate commerce to promote, manage, establish, carry on, and facilitate the business of prostitution.

Rane owned and operated Axiom Healthcare Academy, which purported to provide classes in massage therapy training. He presented himself as a businessman, who for a $1,000 to $2,600 fee, could provide massage therapy training certificates to anyone who wanted to obtain a massage license but not go through the required training.

Rane said he would also provide phony transcripts listing classes and grades, Carpenito said.

Between November 2013 and March 2014, Rane provided 10 fraudulent massage therapy training certificates and transcripts to Robert W. Miller, a former Westwood councilman, who then gave them to prostitutes working in different massage parlors located in Union, Passaic, Hudson, and Middlesex counties, authorities said.

Rane faces a maximum penalty of five yeas in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced Oct. 2.

Email daniel.hubbard@patch.com

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