Social Media Claims of Cartel Funding for UTEP Athletics Proven False

A viral social media post falsely claiming that the Juarez Cartel is funding UTEP athletics through NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) donations has prompted official responses from university officials, though the post originated from a well-known parody account.

The post, created by the satirical account CUSA Centel, has accumulated millions of views despite its fictional nature. The account is known for creating fabricated sports news specifically targeting Conference USA schools and athletics.

UTEP officials quickly moved to dispel the rumors in an official statement: “The reports circulating on social media about UTEP under FBI investigation are completely false. The origin of this hoax is a parody account.”

When contacted by local media outlets, the FBI declined to comment on the matter, which is standard procedure for the agency regarding speculative social media content.

This incident highlights the growing challenge universities face in the era of viral misinformation, particularly as collegiate athletics navigate the relatively new NIL landscape. Since 2021, when NCAA rules changed to allow student-athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness, programs nationwide have seen increased scrutiny over funding sources and sponsorship arrangements.

Dr. Marcus Reyes, a sports communications expert at Texas Tech University, explained the phenomenon: “Parody accounts can gain tremendous traction because they play on existing narratives or concerns. With NIL being relatively new and sometimes controversial, it creates fertile ground for satire that can be mistaken for reality.”

The CUSA Centel account has previously published similar fabricated stories, including a November 5 post claiming that Walter Hartwell White Jr. – a fictional character from the television show “Breaking Bad” – had received a doctorate in chemistry from New Mexico State University and would be hired as a professor there.

For UTEP’s athletic department, the viral hoax creates unwanted attention at a time when many athletic programs are working to establish legitimate NIL collectives and partnerships. The University of Texas at El Paso competes in NCAA Division I as part of Conference USA and has been working to strengthen its athletic programs through appropriate funding channels.

El Paso’s proximity to Juarez, Mexico, makes the false claim particularly sensitive given ongoing concerns about cross-border security issues. Community leaders have expressed frustration that the viral post reinforces negative stereotypes about the border region.

“This type of misinformation, even when intended as satire, can have real consequences for our community’s image,” said Maria Gonzalez, president of the El Paso Chamber of Commerce. “Our binational region already deals with misconceptions, and viral posts like this don’t help matters.”

Social media experts note that parody accounts can sometimes reach audiences who miss disclaimers or context clues indicating satirical content. While CUSA Centel identifies itself as a parody account in its bio, many users encountering shared posts may not see this information.

UTEP’s athletics compliance department has been proactive in educating student-athletes and donors about proper NIL procedures since the NCAA policy changes took effect. The university maintains strict oversight of all funding related to its athletic programs.

Local law enforcement sources, speaking on background, confirmed there is no actual investigation into UTEP’s athletic funding sources.

The incident serves as a reminder of how quickly misinformation can spread in today’s social media environment and the challenges institutions face in responding to viral content, even when it originates from clearly labeled parody sources.