Alleged Dealer in Penn State Frat Cocaine Ring Waives Arraignment, Plans to Plead Not Guilty

One man accused of being a primary dealer in the alleged cocaine trafficking ring that operated out of two Penn State fraternities has waived his formal arraignment and intends to plead not guilty, according to a court document filed on Thursday.

Lars R. Zeepvat, 24, of New Jersey, had already waived his preliminary hearing — the first chance to challenge evidence in a case — immediately after he was charged on Monday, the first and to date only defendant in the case to do so.

In waiving his formal arraignment, which was scheduled for Sept. 9, Zeepvat also indicated he plans to request a jury trial.

Zeepvat is one of 14 people — including 13 current and former students — charged in connection with what Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday called a “coordinated and highly-profitable drug-trafficking crew” involving the Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon fraternity houses.

He is charged with felony counts of being an employee of a corrupt organization, dealing in proceeds of unlawful acts, possession with intent to deliver and criminal use of a communication facility, as well as misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to a grand jury presentment, Zeepvat arrived at Penn State as a cocaine user and utilized his source in Philadelphia to acquire the drug for himself and some of his Sigma Chi fraternity brothers, including his close friend and the man prosecutors say became the ringleader of the trafficking operation, Agostino S. Abbatiello, of New York.

Initially, according to the presentment, Zeepvat and Abbatiello would purchase between 3.5 and 7 grams of cocaine until the Philadelphia source cut off communication. Abbatiello then found his own source in his hometown on Long Island and in the spring of 2023 made a purchase of 100 grams, Zeepvat allegedly told investigators

“Once he made this large purchase, Zeepvat described a shift in Abbatiello, and it was clear to him that Abbatiello was now selling drugs for profit, rather than sourcing it for himself and a few friends,” the presentment states.

Abbatiello began selling cocaine outside of the house to other fraternities and students and asked Zeepvat if he wanted to make money helping distribute the drug in State College, investigators wrote.

Zeepvat and another Sigma Chi brother, Robert A. Zanolla, made three trips to New York to purchase large quantities of cocaine for Abbatiello, who supplied the address and paid the men in cash or a cheaper price for the drug in return, according to the presentment. Each time they allegedly met a man who gave them a bag of cocaine that they brought back to Abbatiello in State College.

Zanolla, 24, of New York, is charged with felony counts of possession with intent and criminal use of a communication facility, along with misdemeanor counts of possession and drug paraphernalia.

Abbatiello purchased about 100 grams of cocaine from his New York source every three to six weeks, which he then had fraternity brothers and pledges help prepare and package for resale, Zeepvat testified to the grand jury. Later, Abbatiello allegedly used roommates in an off-campus apartment to help.

On one occasion in the spring of 2024, Zeepvat said he saw Abbatiello delivering about 500 grams to Delta Upsilon member Thomas Robinson, who Sunday described as the No. 2 man in the trafficking operation.

During the 2023-24 school year, Zeepvat said, Abbatiello was “the largest distributor of cocaine at Penn State” and “would boast about how much money he was making from selling cocaine,” according to the presentment.

After Zeepvat borrowed $1,500 for a spring break trip, Abbatiello made him sell cocaine when he was unable to repay the loan, investigators wrote.

Zeepvat detailed other individuals who owed Abbatiello thousands of dollars, including at least one who was among several people selling cocaine for him, according to the presentment.

The investigation began in the fall of 2024 when Robinson sold cocaine to confidential informants in five controlled purchases at the Delta Upsilon house, according to police. When he was taken into custody at the house in December 2024, police said they had to use a Taser on Robinson after he resisted being handcuffed and repeatedly said “I’m gonna f— you up,” according to the affidavit filed at the time. As he was being taken into custody, he told police he thought they were fraternity brothers playing a prank on him.

Robinson told police after his arrest that Abbatiello was his source for cocaine, detailing purchases that started at 6 and 8 ounces and grew to a kilogram at a cost of $22,000 each time, according to the presentment. Robinson said he first connected with Abbatiello through Delta Upsilon brother Mohammed S. Huraibi, who also sold cocaine, investigators wrote.

Huraibi, 22, of New Jersey, was identified by Sunday as another primary dealer and faces the same charges as Zeepvat.

Abbatiello and Robinson, both 24, are charged with felony corrupt organizations, dealing in proceeds from unlawful acts, criminal use of a communication facility and multiple counts of possession with intent. Robinson’s father, 59-year-old Pittsburgh-based attorney Paul R. Robinson, is charged with a felony count of concealing evidence, including a safe containing drugs and cash, and misdemeanor counts of tampering and obstruction. His attorney reportedly said he picked up the safe among other belongings when his son moved out of the fraternity house following his initial arrest in 2024.

Zeepvat is free on $500,000 unsecured bail as he proceeds toward trial.

The five others charged with felonies are awaiting preliminary hearings currently scheduled for Sept. 2. Abbatiello was denied bail after failing to appear for preliminary arraignment on Monday and surrendering on Tuesday. The four others are free on unsecured bail ranging from $250,000 to $1.5 million.

Eight more current and former fraternity members are charged with misdemeanor counts of possession and paraphernalia.

Penn State placed Delta Upsilon on interim suspension while the university’s Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response investigates.

Sigma Chi was suspended by Penn State in 2021 and operates without university recognition or oversight as a founding member of the independent State College Interfraternity Council.

The six defendants currently enrolled at the university will face potential discipline through Penn State’s student conduct process.