Eurasia Press & News
The US Justice Department charged a Hungarian with conspiracy to export American radio communications technology for use in Russia’s war against Ukraine, using a network of affiliates in countries including Serbia and Hungary.
The US Justice Department on Tuesday unsealed a complaint charging Bence Horvath, a 46-year-old Hungarian national, with conspiracy to export American radio communication technology to Russian government end-users through a network of affiliates in Serbia, Hungary, Spain, Latvia and elsewhere.
The Justice Department did not disclose the names of the affiliates.
Horvath was arrested on August 23 at San Francisco International Airport for allegedly attempting to illegally export the US-origin radio communications technology.
According to the Justice Department, Horvath managed a multinational procurement network that agreed contracts directly with various Russian government entities, focusing on large-scale projects such as constructing operational radio communications systems in Russia’s Kursk region, near the Russian-Ukrainian border.
“This defendant allegedly sought to skirt US export controls put in place to protect our national security and to address Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine,” said US Attorney Matthew M. Graves.
The Justice Department alleged that Horvath and others in his alleged network spoke with a small US radio distribution company about procuring US-manufactured military-grade radios and related accessories and exporting them to Russia.
Over the months that followed, Horvath continued his efforts to secure the items, which he intended to trans-ship to Russia via a freight forwarder in Latvia, according to the Justice Department.
The complaint alleges Horvath purchased 200 military-grade radios intended for illegal export before the US Customs and Border Protection intercepted the shipment.
According to court documents obtained by BIRN, the maximum possible penalties for his alleged crimes are 20 years’ imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine.
The arrest was the result of a joint investigation by multiple US agencies, coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture and the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, both aimed at enforcing sanctions and export restrictions related to Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.
“The Justice Department remains committed to disrupting and holding accountable criminal networks that continue to fuel Russian aggression,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew Olsen.
