More than a dozen current and former Penn State University students are facing charges in connection to an alleged drug trafficking ring involving members of two off-campus fraternities, prosecutors announced Monday.
The alleged operation involved members of the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternities, with drugs cut and packaged at fraternity houses and sold largely to students, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
Prosecutors also allege some fraternity pledges helped cut and package cocaine as part of their initiation into the fraternities.
“This was a coordinated and highly-profitable drug-trafficking crew revolving around two senior members of the fraternities, other fraternity brothers, and pledges,” Attorney General Dave Sunday said in announcing the charges.
The allegations stem from 2023 and 2024 and were operated off campus, Sunday said.
“We did not hear of any drug packaging happening on Penn State’s campus,” 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.”
Investigators allege Agostino Abbatiello, 24, of Westbury, New York, and Thomas Robinson, 23, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, were the two leaders of the operation and senior members of the two fraternities. They are accused of making regular trips to Philadelphia and New York for “large quantities” of cocaine.
In all, 14 people were charged in the drug operation with all but one being Penn State University students at or around the time of the alleged conduct. At least four of those charged are current students.
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.
In a statement, Penn State said Delta Upsilon was placed on interim suspension. Penn State also said that Sigma Chi is not a recognized organization and that it operates outside of the university’s support and oversight.
Michael J. Church, Sigma Chi’s executive director, said in a statement to NBC News that the alleged conduct “is an egregious violation of our values” and all three members charged have been suspended pending the investigation. Church also said the chapter has been placed “on interim suspension of all operations while we determine whether these allegations reflect individual conduct or organized chapter activity.”
Sunday said all of the suspects were arraigned Monday morning except for Abbatiello. A warrant was issued for his arrest. Abbatiello then surrendered to authorities on Tuesday, officials said. He was arraigned and a judge denied his bail.
“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.”
This story originally appeared on NBCPhiladelphia.com.
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