Penn State Drug Ring
14 Charged as Penn State Fraternities Face Cocaine Trafficking Allegations from Statewide Probe
Key Points
Three additional alleged dealers were identified in the case: Mohammed Harabi, Lars Zephat, and Robert Zinola, expanding the network beyond the two leaders.
Abbatiello and Robinson were Penn State students until 2024, indicating the operation involved former students affiliated with the university.
Specified felony charges include Corrupt Organizations and Conspiracy Dealing In Proceeds Of Unlawful Activity filed against Abbatiello, Robinson, and two others.
The fraternity locations noted in the case are Sigma Chi at 400 East Prospect Avenue and Delta Upsilon at 229 Locust Lane, with packaging of cocaine occurring off campus in these houses rather than on university property.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced charges against 14 people tied to a cocaine-trafficking ring operating out of two off-campus Penn State fraternities, according to Centre Daily Times. The operation ran through 2023 and 2024, with drugs sourced from Philadelphia and New York and distributed to students at parties and gatherings.
Five of the 14 defendants were Penn State students at the time of the alleged crimes, Centre Daily Times reported. The two alleged ringleaders — Agostino Abbatiello and Thomas Robinson — were Penn State students until 2024. None of the charged individuals are currently enrolled at the university.
How the Cocaine Ring Operated Inside Fraternity Houses
Authorities say Abbatiello and Robinson ran the operation from two off-campus houses. Sigma Chi sits at 400 East Prospect Avenue. Delta Upsilon is at 229 Locust Lane. Cocaine was brought in from Philadelphia and New York, then cut and packaged at those houses before being sold, according to CBS News.
Some of the packaging work was assigned to fraternity pledges as a task, Onward State reported. The drugs were sold primarily to Penn State students at parties and social gatherings. Three additional alleged dealers — Mohammed Harabi, Lars Zephat, and Robert Zinola — were also identified as part of the network.
Felony Charges Include Corrupt Organizations and Conspiracy
Abbatiello and Robinson face serious felony charges, including Corrupt Organizations and Conspiracy Dealing in Proceeds of Unlawful Activity, according to Head Topics. Two other defendants face the same felony charges. Several others in the group face additional misdemeanor counts tied to the drug operation.
One non-student, Paul Robinson, is accused of helping conceal evidence in the case, Onward State reported. Attorney General Sunday said the investigation is ongoing. More charges could follow as authorities continue to build the case.
Penn State Suspends Delta Upsilon, Distances Itself From Sigma Chi
Penn State officials announced interim suspensions for Delta Upsilon following the charges, according to Patch. The university noted that Sigma Chi already operates without university oversight, meaning Penn State has no direct authority over that chapter.
University officials stressed that none of the 14 charged individuals are current students. Penn State said it remains committed to addressing health, hazing, and safety concerns tied to Greek life. The school did not say whether further disciplinary steps are planned.
AG Sunday Calls Out Off-Campus Greek Life as a Drug Risk
Attorney General Dave Sunday made clear the charges are tied to off-campus activity, not university property. But the scale of the operation — 14 defendants, two fraternity houses, and a two-year timeline — signals a broader problem with drug distribution networks inside Greek organizations, CBS News reported.
The case puts off-campus fraternities under fresh scrutiny across Pennsylvania. Thirteen of the 14 defendants were Penn State students or former students at or around the time of the alleged crimes, according to Patch. Investigators have not said publicly whether any national fraternity organizations have been contacted.
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