The former Penn State student charged with running a cocaine-trafficking ring turned himself in
Agostino Abbatiello, 24, allegedly made regular trips to New York and Philadelphia with another defendant to buy large quantities of cocaine.
The former Pennsylvania State University student accused of running a cocaine trafficking ring out of fraternity houses surrendered to law enforcement Tuesday morning, the state attorney general’s office announced.
Agostino Abbatiello, 24, is charged with orchestrating cocaine sales at Penn State over 2023 and 2024, while he was a student there. He eventually became known as the main cocaine dealer on campus, according to a criminal complaint.
Abbatiello and another defendant in the case, Thomas Robinson, 23, allegedly were the two key suppliers for the ring and made regular trips to Philadelphia and New York to purchase large quantities of cocaine.
» READ MORE: 14 people have been charged in a Penn State fraternity cocaine-trafficking ring
They arranged for the drugs to be brought to two off-campus fraternity houses, Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi, where it was packaged for distribution to other Penn State students, according to the complaint. For some fraternity members, preparing the cocaine for sale became part of their indoctrination to the fraternity, Attorney General Dave Sunday said in a statement on Monday.
Police began investigating in September 2024, and used informants to purchase cocaine, allegedly from Robinson. After Robinson was arrested in December 2024, he told police he had purchased large quantities of cocaine from Abbatiello, including as much as $22,000 for one kilogram at a time, according to the complaint.
Abbatiello, of Long Island, N.Y., is charged with felony counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, conspiracy, and related offenses. District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker denied bail at Abbatiello’s arraignment on Tuesday.
Abbatiello’s attorney, Philip M. Masorti, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
Penn State has placed Delta Epsilon on interim suspension while it investigates, the university said in a statement Monday. Sigma Chi is not a registered student organization and receives no support from Penn State, it said.
A total of 14 people have been charged in the case. Abbatiello, Robinson, and three others were charged with felonies related to the alleged cocaine operation and have been arraigned. Eight others were charged with misdemeanor drug possession.
All are current or former Penn State students, except for Paul Robinson, Thomas’ father. Paul Robinson is charged with tampering and concealing evidence related to law enforcement’s investigation. No lawyers for the Robinsons were listed in court records.
