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Romanian National Pleads Guilty to Laundering $1 Million from Online Auction Fraud

Romanian man Komuves pleaded guilty to laundering over $1M from online auction fraud in Miami.

November 15, 2025, 9:08 AM

The seal of the US Department of Justice placed on a bed of assorted US dollar banknotes.

A close-up of the official Department of Justice seal resting on a background of US dollar bills. By Mehaniq / Shutterstock.com.

Executive Summary

Dan Flaviu Komuves pleaded guilty in Miami federal court to laundering over $1 million derived from a nationwide online auction fraud scheme.

Komuves used eight shell companies, false identities, and counterfeit documents to open bank accounts and systematically withdraw illicit funds between March and August 2024.

The case, investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami and Salt Lake City, underscores federal efforts to combat sophisticated online fraud and cross-border financial crimes.

Laws and Precedent

Dan Flaviu Komuves pleaded guilty to operating a money laundering scheme, a federal offense typically prosecuted under statutes like 18 U.S.C. § 1956 or § 1957, which criminalize financial transactions designed to conceal the proceeds of unlawful activities, in this instance, a nationwide online auction fraud. His prior guilty plea for illegal reentry into the United States further highlights the enforcement of federal immigration laws, specifically 8 U.S.C. § 1326, which prohibits unauthorized return to the U.S. after a previous removal.

Dan Flaviu Komuves, a 28-year-old Romanian national illegally residing in the U.S., pleaded guilty in Miami federal court on October 20, 2025, to operating a money laundering scheme. Komuves admitted to laundering over $1 million derived from a nationwide online auction fraud that tricked U.S. citizens into buying non-existent high-value vehicles, boats, and tractors.

Scheme Details

The elaborate scam involved deceptive online listings where victims were persuaded to wire money to bank accounts established by Komuves in South Florida. To facilitate this, Komuves utilized eight shell companies, false identities, and counterfeit documents, including fake passports, to open these accounts and obscure his true identity.

Once the illicit funds were deposited, Komuves systematically withdrew large sums of cash. He often visited multiple bank branches on the same day, a tactic designed to hinder the recovery of funds and to conceal the nature, location, and control of the laundered proceeds. His money laundering activities spanned from March to August of 2024.

Legal Proceedings and Investigation

Komuves was taken into custody in June 2025, following a previous guilty plea in California for illegal reentry into the United States. The announcement of his plea was made by U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami and HSI Salt Lake City are jointly investigating the case, with additional assistance from the U.S. Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Juenger is prosecuting the case, which is documented under case number 25-cr-20286.

Key Takeaways

Komuves’s guilty plea highlights the ongoing efforts by federal authorities to dismantle sophisticated online fraud and money laundering operations that exploit digital platforms to defraud the public. This conviction underscores the vigilance required to combat financial crimes perpetrated by individuals operating across national borders.