Hungarian man sentenced to 2,5 years in U.S. prison for attempting to smuggle military radios to Russia
A U.S. court has sentenced 47-year-old dual Hungarian-Spanish citizen Bence Horváth to 31 months in prison for illegally attempting to smuggle American-made radios, suitable for military use, to Russia.
According to prosecutors, Horváth ordered 200 Motorola handheld radios from a U.S. distributor and intended to deliver them to Russian recipients via Lithuania. However, the shipment was intercepted at the border before reaching its destination, Telex reported, citing the prosecution’s statement. Horváth admitted guilt even before formal charges were filed. Along with the prison term, the court imposed a USD 5,000 fine, and he will be deported from the United States after serving his sentence.
From Spain to Dubai business ventures
Horváth has lived in Spain for more than twenty years, where he built a successful business career. After founding a marketing firm in his mid-twenties, he shifted into the logistics sector, running a courier company that for a time positioned itself as a competitor to industry giants DHL and GLS. Eventually, his company was acquired by GLS’s Spanish subsidiary for a reported EUR 71 million, a sale that made Horváth a wealthy entrepreneur, according to 444.hu’s report.
Married with three children, he maintained a high public profile in Spain, often giving interviews to the media and enjoying leisure activities such as sailing large yachts. In 2023, Horváth and his wife also registered a company in Dubai’s International Free Zone Authority (IFZA), officially focused on investment and trade in sectors such as food, artificial intelligence, and finance. However, U.S. investigators believe the Dubai venture was also a cover for facilitating sanctioned transactions, as its email records linked directly to the attempted export of restricted U.S. radio technology.
A family link to Moscow
Horváth’s family connections further highlight ties to Russia. His mother, Margarita Horváth Ficzere, previously served as the director of the Moscow partner office of HEPA, the Hungarian Export Development Agency, an institution under Hungary’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Before that, she was officially registered as a supplier to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs — notably for the same manufacturer whose communication devices her son was caught trying to smuggle in defiance of sanctions, Motorola. Horváth himself had also worked for the HEPA, focusing on Hungarian trade affairs.
Outcome of the case
The U.S. Department of Justice stated that from January 2023, Horváth and his associates attempted to export American military radio communication technology to Russia without the required licenses. The smuggling scheme was carried out through front companies operating in several countries, including Hungary, Serbia, and the United Arab Emirates. However, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized the shipment containing 200 military radios, preventing the devices from reaching prohibited Russian end users and ultimately thwarting the operation. After his arrest, Horváth pleaded guilty.