Fourteen people are now facing criminal charges in a cocaine trafficking case that investigators say was tied to two Penn State fraternities, with pledges allegedly being pushed to cut and package drugs as part of initiation.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the case Monday, saying the operation centered on the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternity houses. Thirteen of the defendants were Penn State students at or around the time of the alleged conduct, which investigators say took place from 2023 to 2024.
“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, according to the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General.
He also said the evidence showed how deeply the alleged activity ran through fraternity recruitment. “In fact, according to the evidence uncovered, cutting and packaging cocaine was, for some pledges, an indoctrination into the fraternities,” he said.
Investigators allege former students Agostino Abbatiello and Thomas Robinson were the main suppliers in the ring, making regular trips to Philadelphia and New York to bring back large amounts of cocaine. Court records show a confidential informant bought cocaine at the Delta Upsilon house six times between September and December 2024, a series of purchases that led to Robinson’s arrest.
Robinson later told officers that Abbatiello supplied his cocaine, investigators said. One buyer reportedly paid Abbatiello more than $50,000 for drugs over time.
Four defendants, including Abbatiello and Robinson, are facing felony charges of corrupt organizations and conspiracy. Paul Robinsin, Thomas’ father, is also charged and faces felony conspiracy counts connected to evidence tampering after allegedly hiding drugs and cash in a safe.
Eight other defendants of student age are charged with misdemeanor possession and paraphernalia offenses. According to the attorney general’s office, at least four of the 14 defendants are still current Penn State students.
Police are still searching for Abbatiello.
Penn State moved Delta Upsilon to interim suspension after the charges were announced. The university does not formally recognize Sigma Chi, because the chapter already operates outside official university oversight.
Delta Upsilon’s executive director, Justin Kirk, said in a statement that members linked to the case have either been expelled or suspended pending resignation, and said the international fraternity would keep cooperating with investigators.
Sigma Chi’s executive director, Michael Church, called the alleged conduct “an egregious violation” of the fraternity’s values and said all three charged members from that chapter have been suspended.
Sunday said the investigation is still open and would not say whether hazing charges could still be filed. “We’re here today to discuss the 14 defendants and specifically the drug charges that were filed against them,” he said.
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