More than a dozen Penn State University students are accused of packaging and selling cocaine as part of a multistate drug operation.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday made the announcement during a news conference on Monday at State College.
According to Sunday, between 2023 and 2024, large amounts of cocaine were transported from Philadelphia and New York to State College, Pennsylvania. The drugs were cut, packaged and sold primarily to Penn State students, investigators said.
Officials identified the two leaders of the operation as Agostino Abbatiello, 24, of Westbury, New York, and Thomas Robinson, 23, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Investigators said Abbatiello and Robinson were senior members of the off-campus fraternities Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon, respectively.
Sunday said the drugs were primarily packaged at the fraternity houses by both fraternity brothers and pledges. He also said some of the pledges cut and bagged cocaine as part of their initiation.
“We did not hear of any drug packaging happening on Penn State’s campus,” Attorney General Sunday said. “Again, the packaging happened at off-campus fraternity houses. And the actual drug dealing was largely from friend to friend, fraternity brother to fraternity brother, acquaintance to acquaintance and at fraternity houses and/or during parties or social engagements.”
In all, 14 people were charged in the drug operation with all but one being Penn State students, according to Sunday.
Abbatiello, Robinson and two other students — identified as Mohammed Hurabi and Lars Zeepvat — were charged with felony corrupt organizations, conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity and other related offenses.
A fifth student, Robert Zanolla, was charged with felony conspiracy, criminal use of communication facility and other related misdemeanors.
Eight other students, Liam Smith, Michael Brogno, Kaden Howe, Connor Hurleigh, Seth Beardsley, Kyle Ridpath, Daniel Price and Charles Wiseman, were charged with misdemeanor counts of drug possession and paraphernalia.
The lone non-Penn State student who was charged was identified as Paul Robinson, the father of Thomas Robinson, Sunday said. According to investigators, Paul Robinson, 59, is accused of concealing evidence by stashing drugs and cash in a safe. He is also accused of obstructing the investigation.
Sunday said charges against the 14 suspects were filed on Monday. He also said all of the suspects were arraigned Monday morning except for Abbatiello. A warrant was issued for his arrest.
“With regard to parents that might be watching this and thinking about what’s happening at the school, I just want to say this. There is no city, county, community that exists that doesn’t have to deal with issues such as drug use, drug dealing, addiction and things of that nature,” Sunday said. “This is something that occurs all throughout our country and all throughout the world. And that being said, we take it very, very seriously. Which is why we conducted this investigation. Which is why we filed the charges we filed. And I will say that not only have we filed these charges, but I promise you that we will be watching.”
In a statement posted on Penn State’s website, a spokesperson wrote that Delta Upsilon was placed on interim suspension amid an investigation from the school’s Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response. The spokesperson also wrote that Sigma Chi is not a recognized organization and that it operates outside of Penn State’s support and oversight.
