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Cocaine ring at frats
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced charges on Monday against 14 people tied to a suspected cocaine-trafficking ring that authorities said cut and packaged the drug mainly at two off-campus fraternity houses at Pennsylvania State University.
“More than a dozen Penn State University students ran a cocaine-trafficking ring”
Prosecutors said the operation involved members of the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternities, with large quantities of cocaine transported from Philadelphia and New York to State College, Pennsylvania, from 2023 to 2024.
Sunday’s office said the drugs were “distributed mainly to Penn State … students,” and it described the group as “primarily college students and two fraternities.”
The Guardian reported that Sunday said, “This was a coordinated and highly-profitable drug-trafficking crew revolving around two senior members of the fraternities, other fraternity brothers, and pledges,” as the case centered on alleged suppliers Agostino Abbatiello and Thomas Robinson.
NBC News described authorities alleging that Agostino Abbatiello was known as the biggest drug dealer at Penn State, as the investigation focused on fraternity houses and pledges packaging cocaine.
Quotes and institutional response
At a news conference, Sunday said, “This was a coordinated and highly-profitable drug-trafficking crew revolving around two senior members of the fraternities, other fraternity brothers, and pledges,” framing the alleged operation as revolving around senior fraternity members and pledges.
Penn State vice-president for student affairs Andrea Dowhower said in a statement, “We are horrified by these serious allegations against current and former students,” and the university said it was placing Delta Upsilon on interim suspension while its Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response investigates.
The Guardian reported that Delta Upsilon said “the individuals associated with Delta Upsilon have either been expelled, suspended or resigned,” and it said the charges stem from alleged incidents the fraternity said it was previously made aware of.
CNN reported that Delta Upsilon Executive Director Justin Kirk said the international fraternity was aware of the allegations and that those involved who had ties to Delta Upsilon were expelled or suspended if they did not resign.
Fox 59 said Sunday described the case as “Operation Drugs Unlimited,” and it reported that a Pennsylvania Grand Jury indicted 14 people, 13 of whom were PSU students during the 2023/2024 school year when cocaine was allegedly being trafficked into State College.
Charges, suppliers, and next steps
Prosecutors said the ring’s two main suppliers were Agostino Abbatiello and Thomas Robinson, whom Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday described as “the top of the chain” and senior members of the two fraternities.
“Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday described as "the top of the chain"”
The Guardian reported that prosecutors said four defendants face charges involving “felony corrupt organizations, conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, and related offenses,” while eight other “student-aged” defendants face misdemeanor counts of paraphernalia and possession.
USA Today said Abbatiello and Robinson were accused of making regular trips to Philadelphia and New York to obtain “large quantities” of cocaine, and it said the drugs were mainly cut and packaged at the two fraternity houses before being distributed to Penn State students.
Penn State said Sigma Chi is not a recognized organization and operates outside the university’s support and oversight, while the university’s statement said it would address current students through the individual student conduct process and review Delta Upsilon through organizational conduct processes.
The Centre Daily Times reported that the grand jury presentment described purchases totaling more than $50,000 and said some fraternity members would receive a commission off the sales, as it described the alleged packaging and distribution of cocaine between 2023 and 2024.
