TROY, Ohio (AP) -- Authorities say a former Ohioan has pleaded guilty in a telemarketing fraud ring operated from Ohio and Florida that stole $2.8 million from people in 41 states.

Ohio's attorney general and Miami County's prosecutor in Troy say Theodore Thomas pleaded guilty Friday to a charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activities. They say the alleged ringleader, formerly of Huber Heights, was one of 18 people indicted on charges stemming from United Property Sales, World Wide Land Marketing, and Nationwide Advertising and Marketing.

Authorities say some victims were told they had to prepay closing costs for sale of their land, but there were never any sales.

The operation founded in 2007 was operated from southwest Ohio and the Tampa, Fla., area.

The name of Thomas' attorney wasn't immediately available.