A California millionaire who enjoyed a lavish lifestyle pleaded guilty to masterminding a $1.3 billion Ponzi scheme that fleeced over 9,000 investors with offers tied to real estate.

Robert Shapiro, 61, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Miami federal court to mail and wire fraud conspiracy and income tax evasion following an indictment issued last April. U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga of the Southern District of Florida set sentencing for Oct. 15.