After concluding an investigation into a potential images of child sexual abuse case referred to it by the FBI, University Police determined that no crime was committed using a UTRGV email or network, officials say.
Patrick Gonzales, vice president for Marketing and Communications, said the FBI referred the case to University Police after discovering “potential wrongdoing attached to a UTRGV email.”
Gonzales said the university “could not find any evidence that showed this email address was partaking in any of this wrongdoing,” adding that the email address appeared to be fake.
Assistant Chief of Police Van Slusser told The Rider the first thing University Police did upon receiving the information was track down the Internet Protocol address that was being used.
“We worked with the [Information Technology] department and the [Information Security Office] and we were able to figure out that it appears as though this was spoofed through the University network,” Slusser said. “… It wasn’t actually a device using our network but rather … masquerading as though it was coming from the university but it, in fact, wasn’t.”
The assistant chief said the exact location of the device was unable to be determined, which prevented University Police from identifying a suspect.
Slusser added the perpetrator most likely used a computer software program that allowed them to have a fake IP address showing they were using the university network.
Using a fake IP address is something criminals and people who have privacy concerns use, according to Slusser.
“They basically make it look like they’re using any network in the world to hide their actual location, and we think that’s what happened in this case,” he said. “They just chose to make it look as though they were using the university network when in fact, they were somewhere else. It could have been anywhere in the world.”
Slusser said University Police provided its findings to the FBI.
The Rider filed a public information request Wednesday to obtain a copy of the police report. Under the Texas Public Information, UTRGV must promptly produce the requested records within 10 business days, unless it seeks an attorney general’s opinion.
Asked what kind of repercussions a suspect would face, the assistant police chief replied it depends on the elements of the offense and the images shared.
“Any type of possession or distribution, in this case, of child pornography, is a felony,” Slusser said. “It is a state offense and, depending upon the elements, is also a federal offense. So, it would be dependent upon the particulars of the case but it is definitely a felony.”
To report suspicious activity or concerns, call University Police at 882-7777.
