Defendants Charged With Misdemeanors in Penn State Frat Cocaine Ring Case Waive Hearings, Move Toward Trial

Cases against all 14 men charged in connection with an alleged cocaine trafficking ring operating from two Penn State fraternities are moving toward trial after three facing misdemeanor counts waived their preliminary hearings on Wednesday morning.

Kaden A. J. Howe, 22, of New Jersey; Connor D. Hurleigh, 22, of New York; and Daniel P. Price, 21, of Philadelphia, each declined their first opportunity to challenge evidence and have their cases dismissed.

Five others charged with misdemeanors also recently waived their preliminary hearings: Seth M. Beardsley, 20, of Mechanicsburg; Michael P. Brogno, 20, of Maryland; Kyle D. Ridpath, 21, of Media; Liam H. Smith, 24, of New York; and Charlie W. Weisman, of Maryland.

Six men charged with felonies in the case saw their cases move forward in September.

All are accused of involvement in what prosecutors say was a coordinated drug trafficking operation centered on the off-campus Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternities.

Agostino S. Abbatiello, 24, of New York, was a Sigma Chi member and is accused of bringing large quantities of cocaine from his hometown on Long Island to sell in State College. Prosecutors say Abbatiello was the kingpin of the operation, and witnesses who testified to a grand jury described him as the largest dealer of cocaine at Penn State.

Three others facing felonies — former Delta Upsilon members Thomas M. Robinson, 23, of Pittsburgh and Mohammed S. Huraibi, 22, of New Jersey; and former Sigma Chi brother Lars R. Zeepvat, 24, of New Jersey — testified against Abbatiello at his preliminary hearing in September, recounting their roles in acquiring drugs from him to be further cut and sold.

Robert A. Zanolla, 24, of New York is also charged with felony counts of conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility. Thomas Robinson’s father, Paul R. Robinson, 59, of Pittsburgh, is accused of concealing evidence.

Among those who waived their hearings on Wednesday, Howe was a member of Acacia fraternity who, according to a grand jury presentment, first purchased drugs from Huraibi, mostly for himself but sometimes to sell to members of his own fraternity. When Huraibi stepped away from the operation, Howe allegedly purchased directly from Robinson in November and December 2024 and made deliveries for him in October 2024.

According to the presentment, Hurleigh, a Delta Upsilon member, assisted Robinson in packaging and delivering cocaine.

Price testified to the grand jury that he delivered cocaine to members of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity on Robinson’s behalf on at least two occasions.

Howe, Hurleigh and Price, like the five others facing misdemeanor counts, are charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. Each is scheduled for formal arraignment in November.