Pennsylvania prosecutors have charged 14 people after an investigation into cocaine sales connected to Penn State University students and two fraternities. Most of those accused were students when the activity allegedly occurred during 2023 and 2024.
Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the case Monday. His office says 13 of the 14 defendants attended Penn State during or near the period investigators examined. Four remain students at the university. The remaining defendant is the father of a former student.
Investigators say much of the cocaine passed through two off-campus fraternity houses connected to Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi. The drugs were allegedly prepared there before being sold, with Penn State students making up much of the customer base. Authorities also say some fraternity pledges helped prepare cocaine for distribution.
Agostino Abbatiello and Thomas Robinson are accused of serving as the group’s main sources for cocaine. Prosecutors say they repeatedly traveled to New York and Philadelphia to purchase larger amounts of the drug and bring it back to the State College area.
Abbatiello and Robinson are among four defendants facing some of the most serious accusations in the case. Mohammed Hurabi and Lars Zeepvat were also charged alongside them. Their felony charges include conspiracy, involvement in a corrupt organization and offenses connected to money generated through illegal activity.
Robert Zanolla faces a felony conspiracy charge and a charge related to using communications as part of criminal activity. Eight others — Liam Smith, Michael Brogno, Kaden Howe, Connor Hurleigh, Seth Beardsley, Kyle Ridpath, Daniel Price and Charles Wiseman — were charged with misdemeanor drug possession and paraphernalia offenses.
The case also reaches beyond the students themselves. Paul Robinson, Thomas Robinson’s father, is accused of interfering with investigators and attempting to hide evidence. Authorities say his actions involved a safe that contained cash and drugs.
Investigators believe money from the alleged cocaine sales generally changed hands either as cash or electronically through payment applications.
Penn State responded to the charges by saying it was disturbed by the accusations involving people who currently attend or previously attended the university. Andrea Dowhower, Penn State’s vice president for student affairs, said the school would assist law enforcement and address the matter through its student conduct system.
The two fraternities involved have different relationships with the university. Penn State placed Delta Upsilon under an interim suspension while the school conducts its own review. Delta Upsilon said people connected to its chapter and the case have since been suspended, expelled or have left the fraternity.
Sigma Chi, meanwhile, is not recognized by Penn State and operates outside the university’s oversight. The fraternity said the three charged members connected to it were suspended, along with the chapter itself.
Abbatiello did not appear for an arraignment scheduled for Monday but turned himself in Tuesday morning. He was arraigned on multiple felony charges, and the judge ordered that he be held without bail.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force Section will handle the prosecutions. The charges remain allegations, and none of the defendants have been found guilty in the case.
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