Cutting and packaging cocaine was reportedly part of the ‘pledge indoctrination’ rituals.
14 people (some sources say 13) were arrested and charged for cocaine trafficking at Penn State’s Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternities.
Today (17), Pennsylvania AG Dave Sunday said suspects Agostino Abbatiello and Thomas Robinson were the main coke suppliers.
They made regular trips to Philadelphia and New York to pick up ‘large quantities’ of the drug.
JUST IN: 13 Penn State fraternity brothers charged with running a major cocaine trafficking ring, with some pledges allegedly forced to cut & package cocaine as part of their “indoctrination” into the frats. pic.twitter.com/QDXtjgNjhL
— Polymarket (@Polymarket) August 17, 2026
NEW: Frat bros arrested for allegedly trafficking cocaine and even forcing pledges to sell it for them in order to join their fraternity.
Both Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi members and former members at Penn State have been arrested in what was called Operation Drugs Unlimited.… pic.twitter.com/PjCJYGqUFj
— E X X ➠A L E R T S (@ExxAlerts) August 17, 2026
Fox News reported:
“Members of the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternities allegedly cut and packaged the coke inside their frat houses off campus and distributed it to Penn State students, investigators said.
The AG said in addition to the charges against alleged ringleaders Abbatiello and Robinson, two more, Mohammed Hurabi and Lars Zeepvat, are charged with felony corrupt organizations, conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity and related offenses. Additionally, Robert Zanolla, is charged with felony conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility and related misdemeanors.
Eight more “student-aged defendants” charged are facing misdemeanors for possession and paraphernalia, the AG said. Those include Liam Smith, Michael Brogno, Kaden Howe, Connor Hurleigh, Seth Beardsley, Kyle Ridpath, Daniel Price and Charles Wiseman.”
Pittsburgh man accused of leading cocaine-trafficking ring involving 2 Penn State fraternities:
Thomas Robinson, a 23-year-old Pittsburgh man, has been identified by Pennsylvania authorities as one of the ringleaders behind a massive multi-state cocaine-trafficking operation… pic.twitter.com/7tUl62la4i
— Matt Robinson (@mattrobinson) August 17, 2026
Center Daily Times reported:
“’This was a coordinated and organized cocaine trafficking operation with regular trips to those source cities and large amounts of cocaine being brought back to these fraternities’, Sunday said during a Monday morning press conference at his State College area office. ‘This is very serious criminal conduct’.
‘There was nothing junior or childlike about this type of conduct’. Prosecutors cast Agostino S. Abbatiello, 24, of New York, as the head of the high-level operation. Multiple witnesses who testified in front of the grand jury referred to him as the largest dealer of cocaine for Penn State students and said he was making ‘considerable amounts of money in the business’.
Abbatiello had been distributing cocaine as recently as February, the grand jury alleged. When he learned that law enforcement was investigating, he allegedly begged people to not disclose his involvement.
A warrant has been issued for his arrest. He was a student until 2024 and a member of Sigma Chi. According to a biography posted on Penn State’s website, he had been studying accounting.”
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