STATE COLLEGE — Penn State students accused of operating a drug-trafficking ring allegedly sold pounds of cocaine at the university’s main campus in 2023 and 2024, and used fraternity brothers and pledges to cut, package and distribute the drug, mostly to other students, according to grand jury testimony unveiled Monday by Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday.
State College Police, working in conjunction with the Office of Attorney General, filed charges against 14 defendants — 13 of whom were attending or recently attended Penn State’s University Park campus at the time of the alleged crimes.
“This was a coordinated and highly-profitable drug-trafficking crew revolving around two senior members of the fraternities, other fraternity brothers and pledges,” Sunday said. “In fact, according to the evidence uncovered, cutting and packaging cocaine was, for some pledges, an indoctrination into the fraternities.”
Four lead defendants are charged with felony corrupt organizations, conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, and related offenses. A fifth defendant faced two felonies among other charges. The remaining defendants, who were all current or former students, were charged with misdemeanors.
The 14th defendant is a father charged with a felony and related counts for allegedly attempting to disrupt the investigation.
Sunday described Agostino S. Abbatiello, 24, of Westbury, N.Y., as having led the enterprise with Thomas M. Robinson, 23, of Pittsburgh, next in line. He said that both were senior leaders at fraternities — Abbatiello at Sigma Chi and Robinson at Delta Upsilon.
The university placed Delta Upsilon on interim suspension on Monday pending further internal investigation. Sigma Chi was suspended for three years in early 2021 regarding violations of COVID-19 guidelines and had since chosen not to return to the university’s Greek system, operating independently of Penn State.
Both fraternities operate off campus.
Penn State Student Affairs will address the cases against the six individuals who remain enrolled at the university and follow the student conduct process, according to a media release from Penn State.
The grand jury indictment shows that multiple people allegedly working with Abbatiello to buy and sell cocaine became cooperating witnesses during the investigation.
Abbatiello himself did not testify before the grand jury and had not yet been arrested and arraigned as of Monday afternoon. He has an outstanding warrant for his arrest.
According to the indictment, State College Police used a confidential informant to buy a combined 73.8 grams of cocaine from Robinson between September and December of 2024. The purchases were all made at Delta Upsilon
Police said Robinson cooperated with law enforcement after his arrest and detailed the operation along with Abbatiello’s alleged role. According to the indictment, Robinson told police he first began purchasing 6 to 8 ounces before eventually purchasing 2.2 pounds, or 1 kilogram, on at least two occasions at a cost of $22,000 each.
The indictment states that Robinson told police that he met Abbatiello through Mohammed Huraibi, 22, of Secaucus, N.J., who was a fraternity brother at Delta Upsilon. The two purchased cocaine from Abbatiello together in bulk, beginning fall semester 2023, and sold it in smaller amounts to turn a profit, the indictment states.
Huraibi told the grand jury that he used the messaging app Snapchat to arrange buys from Abbatiello with amounts ranging from 100 to 250 grams before mostly backing out of selling cocaine in December 2023.
Lars R. Zeepvat, 24, of Mendham, N.J., and Robert A. Zanolla, 24, of Manhasset, N.Y., are identified as Sigma Chi brothers of Abbatiello and associated in the drug-trafficking ring.
According to the indictment, Zeepvat testified that he and Abbatiello initially bought cocaine in small amounts for personal use. When that source went dry, Zeepvat said he found a source in New York from whom bulk purchases were made, the indictment states.
Like Zeepvat, police said Zanolla facilitated purchases and brought cocaine back from New York to State College and were paid $500 to $1,000 by Abbatiello.
The grand jury indictment states that jurors heard testimony from multiple witnesses who purchased cocaine from Abbatiello, some of whom saw or helped him cut and repackage the drug.
Robinson, Huraibi, Zeepvat and Zanolla were all arraigned Monday in Centre County. They were each released on unsecured bail and ordered to appear for preliminary hearings next month. Their bail varied: Robinson, $1.5 million; Huraibi and Zeepvat, $500,000 each; Zanolla, $250,000.
Paul Robinson, 59, of Pittsburgh, father of defendant Thomas Robinson, is charged with felony tampering, hindering apprehension for allegedly taking steps to conceal evidence, including a safe containing drugs and cash, and obstructing the investigation, the Attorney General’s Office said. He is free on $1 million unsecured bail.
Also charged, with misdemeanors, are: Liam Smith, Michael Brogno, Kaden Howe, Connor Hurleigh, Seth Beardsley, Kyle Ridpath, Daniel Price and Charles Wiseman.