Agostino Abbatiello, 24, arrived at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte for a court appearance after authorities alleged he helped run a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation involving Penn State students and fraternity members.
According to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office and a statewide investigating grand jury, Abbatiello and Thomas Robinson were the two primary suppliers for the organization. Investigators say they made regular trips to Philadelphia and New York to obtain large quantities of cocaine.
Authorities allege the cocaine was brought back to State College, where it was cut, packaged, and distributed primarily from the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternity houses. Prosecutors say some fraternity pledges were used to cut and package cocaine as part of their “indoctrination” into the fraternities.
Court records describe transactions involving substantial quantities of cocaine. Robinson allegedly bought 500 grams from Abbatiello for $18,000 in March 2024 and later allegedly bought one kilogram at a time for $22,000 on two occasions. Another witness claimed to have paid Abbatiello more than $50,000 for drugs.
Multiple witnesses described Abbatiello to the grand jury as the largest cocaine dealer serving Penn State students, according to Attorney General Dave Sunday.
Fourteen people were charged in the investigation, including 13 who were Penn State students at or around the time of the alleged activity in 2023 and 2024. Abbatiello faces numerous felony charges, including possession with intent to deliver cocaine, corrupt organizations, and conspiracy. He was initially denied bail after his arraignment.
All charges are allegations. Abbatiello and the other defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Source: Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
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