Six people charged in a cocaine-trafficking ring involving Penn State students had their cases bound over to Centre County Court on Wednesday, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced.
Among those in court was Agostino Abbatiello, who prosecutors call the main supplier for a student-run operation tied to two off-campus fraternities, Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi.
Witnesses testified that Abbatiello boasted about his wealth and his place atop the trafficking ring, and described how cocaine was brought to the fraternity houses and sold, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
Centre County President Judge Jonathan Grine ordered that Abbatiello be tried in county court on all charges. The same order was issued for five other people charged with felonies: Mohammed Huraibi, Thomas Robinson, Paul Robinson (Thomas Robinson’s father), Robert Zanolla, and Lars Zeepvat.
Paul Robinson opted for a preliminary hearing, and all charges against him were held for county court. The other defendants waived hearings, the Attorney General’s Office said.
“These were essential steps in the prosecution of defendants who each had very significant roles in this upper-level trafficking operation,” Sunday said. “There was testimony today that corroborated our charges alleging drug-dealing for a period of years, mainly involving college students and fraternities.”
Judge Grine also set Abbatiello’s bail at $250,000 secured. Senior Deputy Attorney General Megan McGoron asked that if bail is posted, it be shown the money came from a legitimate source. If Abbatiello posts bail, he must surrender his passport and is barred from contacting witnesses.
Fourteen people have been charged in all. Thirteen were Penn State students at or around the time of the alleged conduct in 2023 and 2024. Paul Robinson is charged with felony hindering apprehension for allegedly taking steps to conceal evidence, including a safe containing drugs and cash, and obstructing the investigation.
Eight defendants facing misdemeanors have preliminary hearings scheduled for October.
According to the investigation and a grand jury presentment, Abbatiello and Thomas Robinson were the main suppliers, making regular trips to Philadelphia and New York for large quantities of cocaine. An Attorney General graphic identifies Abbatiello as a Sigma Chi brother and former Penn State student, and Thomas Robinson as a Delta Upsilon brother and former student. It lists the fraternity houses at 229 Locust Lane and 400 East Prospect Avenue in State College.
Abbatiello’s lawyers argued there was impropriety in last month’s preliminary arraignments. Judge Grine dismissed those allegations and called the arraignment process routine, the Attorney General’s Office said.
State College police filed the charges. The cases are being prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force Section.
All charges are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Source: Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
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