Accused Leader of Cocaine Trafficking Ring at Penn State Frats Denied Bail

The former Penn State student accused of leading a large-scale cocaine trafficking ring operating out of two off-campus fraternities surrendered and was denied bail on Tuesday.

Agostino S. Abbatiello, 24, of Westbury, New York, was arraigned by District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker on Tuesday morning after Attorney General Dave Sunday said he failed to appear for a scheduled arraignment on Monday. Gillette-Walker denied bail, citing “flight risk; serious allegations of drug use/sales=danger to public,” according to a court docket.

Abbatiello was one of 14 people — including 13 current and former Penn State students — charged on Monday in connection with the drug trafficking ring that investigators say operated out of Delta Upsilon, 229 Locust Lane, and Sigma Chi, 400 E. Prospect Ave., from 2023 to 2024.

According to a grand jury presentment, grand jury presentment, Abbatiello and Thomas M. Robinson, 23, of Pittsburgh, made regular trips to Philadelphia and New York for large quantities of cocaine that they brought back to be cut and packaged at the fraternity houses then sold to Penn State students. Both men are charged with felony corrupt organizations, dealing in proceeds of unlawful acts, possession with intent and criminal use of a communication facility.

Robinson and five others charged with felonies in the case were arraigned on Monday and released on unsecured bail ranging from $250,000 to $1.5 million. Mohammed S. Huraibi, 22, and Lars R. Zeepvat, 24, both of New Jersey, were also identified as primary dealers, and face similar, though fewer, counts as Abbatiello and Robinson, while Robert A. Zanolla, 24, of New York is charged with felony counts of conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility.

Paul R. Robinson, 59, of Pittsburgh, was the only non-student charged on Monday and is accused of concealing evidence, including a safe containing drugs and cash, and obstruction.

“We are pleased to report that the most significant members of this cocaine-trafficking organization are accounted for, and will have their fair process in court,” Sunday said. “These are very serious charges and the next steps will be preliminary hearings.”

Eight others were charged with misdemeanor counts of possession and drug paraphernalia.

Investigators identified Abbatiello as the head of the operation after Robinson was arrested in December 2024 and said Abbatiello was his source for cocaine, according to the presentment. As the business grew, they used members of the fraternities to package the drugs, sometimes involving pledges as a form of initiation, investigators said.

One witness said that “Abbatiello would boast about how much money he was making from selling cocaine,” and several testified that he he was the main dealer of the drug at Penn State, according to the presentment.

Sunday said that the dealing “was largely from friend to friend, fraternity brother to fraternity brother, acquaintance to acquaintance, at fraternity houses or during parties or social engagements.” Even after Robinson’s arrest, Abbatiello continued distributing to friends as recently as February, and when he learned individuals were “being interviewed by law enforcement about drug dealing at Penn State, he begged them not to talk about his involvement,” according to the presentment.

Abbatiello and four others charged with felonies have preliminary hearings now scheduled for Sept. 2. Zeepvat waived his preliminary hearing and will proceed to formal arraignment on Sept. 9.

Delta Upsilon was placed on interim suspension by Penn State while its Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response investigates, the university said in a statement. Sigma Chi, which was suspended by Penn State in 2021, operates independently without university recognition or oversight.

Sigma Chi’s executive director, Michael Church, said the three Sigma Chi members who were charged have been suspended pending the outcome of the judicial process. He said the fraternity has suspended all operations at its Penn State chapter on an interim basis “while we determine whether these allegations reflect individual conduct or organized chapter activity.”

“This conduct is an egregious violation of our values and has no place in our fraternity, community, or society,” Church said, adding that any members involved “will be held fully accountable to the extent available to our fraternity.”

Delta Upsilon Executive Director Justin Kirk said anyone involved in the drug ring who had ties to Delta Upsilon was expelled or suspended from the fraternity if they did not resign.

“We will continue to work closely with the university on any investigative efforts,” Kirk said.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this article.