A Romanian national living illegally in the United States has pleaded guilty to laundering more than $1 million in proceeds from a nationwide online auction fraud scheme that operated out of South Florida, federal prosecutors said.

According to the United States Department of Justice, Dan Flaviu Komuves, 28, admitted in Miami federal court that he helped run an operation that deceived victims across the country into believing they were purchasing high-value vehicles, boats and tractors through legitimate online auction platforms.

According to court documents, the listings were fake, and Komuves used shell companies and fraudulent bank accounts to collect and conceal the victims’ payments.

Prosecutors said Komuves opened numerous bank accounts in South Florida using eight shell companies

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