Greater than a dozen Penn State frat brothers have been busted for operating a fancy cocaine trafficking ring out of two separate fraternities that pressured younger pledges to chop and bag the medicine then bought to college students, in response to prosecutors.
A whopping 14 individuals — together with a Lengthy Island native on the “very prime of the meals chain” — have been slapped with costs in connection to the multi-state trafficking scheme. 4 of the charged are present Penn State college students, whereas 9 are alumni, and one is a dad.
The fraternities, Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon, reportedly coordinated with suppliers in New York and Philadelphia, trafficking within the coke and distributing it primarily to Penn State college students.
“This was a coordinated and highly-profitable drug-trafficking crew revolving round two senior members of the fraternities, different fraternity brothers, and pledges,” Lawyer Basic Dave Sunday mentioned in an announcement Monday.
“In reality, in response to the proof uncovered, slicing and packaging cocaine was, for some pledges, an indoctrination into the fraternities.”
Sunday famous throughout a Monday press convention that 24-year-old Agostino Abbatiello, of Westbury, Nassau County, was “on the very prime of the chain.”
Abbatiello and Thomas Robinson — of Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon fraternities, respectively — have been the principle suppliers within the scheme, with Abbatiello incessantly touring to New York to accumulate giant portions of cocaine between 2023 and 2024, the investigation discovered.
Abbatiello allegedly distributed cocaine as not too long ago as February 2026, in response to court docket paperwork.
When he discovered regulation enforcement was interviewing people about Penn State drug dealing, he reportedly “begged them to not discuss his involvement.”
The cocaine was lower and packaged primarily on the off-campus Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternity homes earlier than being distributed primarily to Penn State college students.
Abbatiello, Robinson, Mohammed Huraibi, and Lars Zeepvat face felony costs together with corrupt organizations, conspiracy, and dealing in proceeds of illegal exercise.
A second Lengthy Islander — Robert Zanolla, 24, of Manhasset — can also be charged with felony conspiracy and prison use of a communication facility.
Additionally charged, with misdemeanors, are: Liam Smith, Michael Brogno, Kaden Howe, Connor Hurleigh, Seth Beardsley, Kyle Ridpath, Daniel Worth, and Charles Wiseman.
Paul Robinson, Thomas’ father, is charged with felony tampering, hindering apprehension for taking steps to hide proof, together with a secure containing medicine and money, and obstructing the investigation.
Penn State has since suspended Delta Upsilon whereas it investigates the frat and mentioned Sigma Chi is just not acknowledged by the college and opperates exterior its supervision.
“We’re horrified by these severe allegations in opposition to present and former college students,” mentioned Andrea Dowhower, Penn State’s vp for Pupil Affairs. “Felony exercise, together with hazing, equivalent to this has no place at our establishment, and we are going to cooperate with regulation enforcement in any means we will. We are going to proceed to boost our efforts round well being and security and hazing instructional efforts for all our organizations.”
