A 32-year-old American man accused of using an eBay account for fake computer-printer transactions to raise funds for a US terror plot pleaded guilty to federal terrorism-related charges Tuesday.

Mohamed Elshinawy, whom the government said pledged allegiance to ISIS, told the authorities that the up to $8,700 he received via PayPal was to be used for "operational purposes" (PDF) in the US, like conducting a terror attack. However, he also told the authorities, according to court documents, that he was just ripping off overseas ISIS operatives and had no intention of carrying out an attack in the US.

The FBI said in court documents that the authorities began investigating the Maryland man in 2015 after he received a $1,000 Western Union money transfer from Egypt.

The Wall Street Journal said the prosecution helped uncover an Islamic State "global financial network" that enabled the terror group to shift funds throughout the world.

Seamus Hughes, deputy director of George Washington University's Program on Extremism, said "it was the first known time ISIS had given money to someone in the US for an attack."

The defendant pleaded guilty to charges (PDF) in a Maryland federal court that include providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, terror financing, and making false statements to the authorities.

The authorities said the defendant was introduced to ISIS through a childhood friend they did not name.

No sentencing date was immediately set. The material support charge alone carries a maximum 20-year term.