Agostino Abbatiello, the alleged “Pablo Pledgescobar” ringleader, surrendered to authorities Tuesday after skipping his first court date.
The 24-year-old former Sigma Chi member turned himself in on August 18, one day after failing to appear for a scheduled arraignment in the sweeping “Operation Drugs Unlimited” probe. Abbatiello, of Westbury, New York, was formally charged with multiple felonies including possession with intent to deliver cocaine and conspiracy. A district judge denied him bail at his arraignment, prosecutors confirmed.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced charges Monday against 14 people tied to the alleged cocaine-trafficking ring that operated out of two Penn State fraternity houses throughout 2023 and 2024. Thirteen of those charged were students at or around the time of the alleged crimes. At least four remain enrolled at the university.
“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 at a Monday press conference. “In fact, according to the evidence uncovered, cutting and packaging cocaine was, for some pledges, an indoctrination into the fraternities.”
Abbatiello allegedly ran the operation alongside Thomas Robinson, 23, of Churchill, Pennsylvania. Investigators say the pair regularly drove to Philadelphia and New York to purchase large quantities of cocaine, then brought the drugs back to State College. According to a criminal complaint, multiple grand jury witnesses identified Abbatiello as the largest dealer of cocaine to Penn State students. After Robinson was arrested, he told State College police he purchased cocaine from Abbatiello, including as much as one kilogram for $22,000 at a time, the complaint states.
Sunday described Abbatiello as “at the very top of the chain” while Robinson was “a rung below that on the ladder.” The cocaine was allegedly cut and packaged primarily at the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternity houses, both off-campus organizations, before being distributed mainly to Penn State students. Payments were made mostly in cash or through payment apps, investigators said.
Alongside Abbatiello and Robinson, Mohammed Hurabi and Lars Zeepvat each face felony counts including corrupt organizations, conspiracy, and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity. Robert Zanolla, 24, of Manhasset, New York, is charged with felony conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility. Zanolla was arraigned Monday and posted $250,000 bail.
Eight other student-aged defendants — Liam Smith, Michael Brogno, Kaden Howe, Connor Hurleigh, Seth Beardsley, Kyle Ridpath, Daniel Price, and Charles Wiseman — face misdemeanor counts of possession and paraphernalia.
The investigation has also ensnared Paul Robinson, Thomas Robinson’s father and a prominent Pittsburgh attorney. He is charged with felony tampering with evidence and hindering apprehension for allegedly hiding a safe containing drugs and cash in an effort to obstruct the case.
Andrea Dowhower, Penn State’s vice president for Student Affairs, issued a statement Monday responding to the charges. “We are horrified by these serious allegations against current and former students,” she said. “Criminal activity, including hazing, such as this has no place at our institution, and we will cooperate with law enforcement in any way we can.”
Dowhower continued: “We will continue to enhance our efforts around health and safety and hazing educational efforts for all our organizations.”
Penn State has placed Delta Upsilon on interim suspension while its Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response investigates. The university noted that Sigma Chi “is not recognized by the university” and operates outside its oversight. Delta Upsilon Executive Director Justin Kirk said in a statement that individuals associated with his fraternity have “either been expelled, suspended or resigned” and that the organization would continue working with the university on investigative efforts.
In the viral moment that sparked national attention, Sunday’s office revealed that pledges were allegedly forced to cut and package cocaine as part of their initiation into the fraternities — a detail that transformed the case from a routine drug bust into a headline-grabbing scandal about hazing and organized crime on campus. The attorney general emphasized the sophistication of the operation, stating, “There’s nothing junior or childlike about this type of conduct. This was an upper-level trafficking organization for this region in Pennsylvania.” The probe involved State College police and the 54th Statewide Investigating Grand Jury, with investigators using confidential informants to make controlled purchases on multiple occasions.
Classes at Penn State are scheduled to begin August 24.