Use Disk utility to mount main Mac disk, if it is not mounted.Reboot and go again to recovery mode with Command + R key.In recovery tools choose Terminal from the Utilities menu.Reboot mac and use Command + R key to enter recovery mode.Just shut down and reboot again to recovery mode using Command + R keys just when u see the Mac apple. When it tries to setup, don't do anything.Locate computer hard drive and choose Erase.Booted again to USB and continued like usual. With a wifi or ethernet connection it went through the installer update and was happy. It failed until the internet connection was established. Apparently the installer needs to peek at Mac server to see if it knows the Mac is enrolled in a management scheme and update, or it may be confused by mac T2 chip. Choose to boot from USB Key - On this attempt, there was a message stating 'A software update required to use this startup disk'.Press Option Key as soon as u see the Mac apple.Create USB boot stick with free program DiskMaker X.

Download Catalina from Apple Store to a working Mac.

Either way, the main disable happen from recovery mode. It used a USB for fresh install but the process may also work with a recovery mode configuration on a mac that is running already.

This process worked to get a 2018 mac from eBay working with fresh install Catalina.

Wipe macbook pro