Former Bergen Councilman Admits To Facilitating Prostitution

RIDGEWOOD, NJ - A former Ridgewood and Westwood councilman pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to selling fraudulent massage therapy training certificates to masseurs at dozens of North Jersey massage parlors to facilitate prostitution, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Robert W. Miller, 67, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi to using facilities in interstate commerce to promote prostitution and performing an act to promote, manage, establish, carry on, and facilitate that unlawful activity, Fishman said.

Miller served as a a Ridgewood councilman from 1996 to 1998 and for approximately seven years in his native Westwood until he resigned last year.

Miller owned and operated RMW Associates Inc., and for between $500 and $2,500, provided massage therapy training certificates to anyone in New Jersey who was not trained as a masseur, Fishman said. He would also list the classes purportedly taken and the grades an individual received in them, authorities said.

Miller gave 50 fake certificates to 25 different massage parlors in Union, Passaic, Hudson, and Middlesex counties from 1997 to August 2013, Fishman said.

Miller admitted that he knew many of the parlors were fronts for prostitution and that the fake certificates allowed the workers to engage in prostitution, the U.S. attorney said.

Miller also reportedly used A.R.M. Enterprises LLC, which he also owned, to advertise in newspapers for massage parlors using “discrete working” that informed readers the parlor was a front for prostitution, authorities said.

Miller faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

As part of the plea agreement, Miller will forfeit nearly $96,000, including more than $25,800 taken from his home in 2013 and $70,100 he gave to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which he acknowledged was obtained through his unlawful activity.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 19.