IMG Academy Fined $1.7M for Ties to Mexican Drug Cartel Fees

Bassyonni

Published: February 18, 2026 4:23 AM ET

IMG Academy Fined $1.7M for Ties to Mexican Drug Cartel Fees

The IMG Academy has been fined $1.72 million by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) due to its connections with individuals linked to a Mexican drug cartel. This fine stems from multiple violations related to the acceptance of tuition fees for two students whose parents are on OFAC’s sanctions list.

Background of Violations

Over a period of five years, IMG Academy conducted monetary transactions with two individuals sanctioned for their ties to a Mexican drug cartel. According to OFAC, this resulted in a total of 89 violations of counternarcotics sanctions.

Impact of Compliance Failures

These transactions enabled designated individuals linked to the cartel to engage in commerce with U.S. persons and access the U.S. financial system. Reports, including one from the Miami Herald, revealed that the academy received wire transfers from third parties in Mexico as part of the tuition agreements.

Details of the Students

The two students attended IMG Academy from 2018 to 2022. Although specific information about the students or their sports participation remains undisclosed, tuition fees ranged from $97,867 to $102,235 per academic year.

IMG Academy’s Response

In a statement to the Bradenton Herald, IMG Academy acknowledged the incident and highlighted efforts made to strengthen compliance measures. The academy emphasized its commitment to integrity and compliance within its operations.

IMG Academy lacked an OFAC sanctions compliance program between 2018 and 2022.
Upon discovery of the issue, the academy reported it to OFAC and cooperated fully with the investigation.
Extensive measures have since been implemented to establish a comprehensive sanctions compliance program.

Current Status of IMG Academy

As of the current academic year, IMG Academy remains a prominent institution for developing young athletes. The school claims to have placed 150 student-athletes into professional ranks across various sports in the last decade. The boys’ basketball team currently holds a record of 17-9, while the football team recently completed an undefeated season at 9-0.

Despite the growth of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements in high school sports, compliance issues continue to pose challenges. The academy’s situation serves as a reminder of the importance of following legal guidelines in athletic recruitment and financial transactions.