IMG Academy Fined Nearly $2 Million Over Cartel Ties

Prep school penalized for accepting payments from parents linked to Mexican drug cartel.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The renowned IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, has been fined close to $2 million by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) after it was found that the guardians of two student-athletes had ties to a Mexican drug cartel, violating U.S. counternarcotics sanctions.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges elite sports academies face in vetting the backgrounds of their students' families and ensuring compliance with sanctions regulations, especially when dealing with international payments. The hefty fine levied against IMG Academy serves as a warning to other institutions about the serious consequences of lax due diligence.

The details

According to OFAC, IMG Academy "would receive wire transfers from non-designated third-party individuals and entities, primarily located in Mexico, into its bank account" and "would also charge payments to credit cards" for the two student-athletes whose guardians were linked to the Mexican drug cartel. The school "showed reckless disregard for U.S. sanctions requirements" and "minimal due diligence at any point" would have revealed the sanctioned status of these individuals.

  • The OFAC announced the nearly $2 million fine against IMG Academy on February 18, 2026.

The players

IMG Academy

A renowned high school in Bradenton, Florida, that has become a stepping stone for aspiring college and professional athletes.

U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)

The government agency that announced the fine against IMG Academy for violations of U.S. counternarcotics sanctions.

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What’s next

The OFAC has not indicated any further actions beyond the $2 million fine levied against IMG Academy.

The takeaway

This case underscores the importance of rigorous due diligence and compliance measures for elite sports institutions when dealing with international students and their families, especially in light of sanctions regulations. The hefty penalty serves as a wake-up call for the industry to strengthen oversight and prevent such violations from occurring in the future.