Coke In College: Documents

Pennsylvania authorities charged 14 people in connection with a cocaine trafficking ring that operated mainly through two off-campus fraternities tied to Penn State University. Most of the activity happened in 2023 and 2024.

By Ruth DiTucci | True Crime | SNN.BZ

The drugs were brought in from New York and Philadelphia, cut and packaged at fraternity houses, and sold mostly to Penn State students. Source: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General announcement

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the charges on August 17, 2026. He said the group was organized and made a lot of money. Cutting and packaging the cocaine was sometimes treated as a way for new pledges to join or prove themselves in the fraternities. Source: Newsweek report

The two main people in charge, according to prosecutors, were Agostino Abbatiello and Thomas Robinson. Abbatiello, 24, from Westbury, New York, was a member of Sigma Chi and was described as the top supplier.

Multiple witnesses told a grand jury he was the largest cocaine dealer for Penn State students. He is accused of making regular trips to New York and Philadelphia to get large amounts of cocaine, sometimes kilograms at a time. Prosecutors said he continued dealing as recently as February 2026 and asked people not to talk about his role once the investigation started. An arrest warrant was issued for him. Source: New York Post

2026-08-17-Opr-Drugs-Unlimited-Crim-Complaint_opt Download

Thomas Robinson, 23, from the Pittsburgh area, was a member of Delta Upsilon. Prosecutors said he ranked just below Abbatiello. He bought cocaine from Abbatiello in multiple large deals, including hundreds of grams and full kilograms for tens of thousands of dollars. Some of the packaging happened with help from Delta Upsilon pledges. Robinson was first charged earlier after controlled buys by police. He later cooperated and named Abbatiello as his source. Source: Pennsylvania Attorney General criminal complaint PDF

Two other men face the same serious felony charges as Abbatiello and Robinson: Mohammed Hurabi (also spelled Huraibi in some reports), 22, of New Jersey, and Lars Zeepvat, 24, of New Jersey. Prosecutors said they were primary dealers in the operation. The charges against these four include corrupt organizations, conspiracy, dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activity, and related drug offenses. Source: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General announcement

Robert Zanolla, 24, of Manhasset, New York, faces felony conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility charges, plus related misdemeanors. Source: New York Post

Paul Robinson, the father of Thomas Robinson, is the only non-student charged. He faces felony charges of tampering with evidence and hindering the investigation. Prosecutors say he helped hide a safe that contained drugs and cash. Source: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General announcement

Paul R. Robinson is a lawyer, listed as an equity member/partner (and described in recent reporting as a managing attorney). He is listed with: Meyer, Darragh, Buckler, Bebenek & Eck, PLLC (often abbreviated as Meyer Darragh or MDBBE), based in Pittsburgh (U.S. Steel Tower, Suite 4850, 600 Grant Street).

He has been with the firm since joining after law school graduation in 1992 (he clerked there in 1991), became a partner in 1997, and chairs its product liability and transportation groups. His practice focuses on transportation, products liability, commercial law, construction law, and insurance litigation/coverage. This is confirmed by:

The firm’s own attorney bio page.
The Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court (employer listed as Meyer, Darragh, Buckler, Bebenek & Eck, PLLC; status active).
Multiple news reports from August 18, 2026 (TribLIVE, NY Post, Independent, CBS Pittsburgh, etc.), which identify him in connection with criminal charges related to a Penn State fraternity cocaine trafficking investigation involving his son. The firm has issued statements acknowledging the charges against him personally while noting they do not involve the firm, its clients, or its legal services.

Eight other people face misdemeanor charges of drug possession and paraphernalia. They are:

Charles Wiseman, Liam Smith, Michael Brogno (also spelled Brogna in some documents), Kaden Howe, Connor Hurleigh, Seth Beardsley, Kyle Ridpath, and Daniel Price

Key details from the document

Court: Magisterial District 49-3-02, Centre County, Pennsylvania
MDJ: Hon. Kelley Gillette-Walker
Complaint Number / Incident: BN4240230T
Filed: August 17, 2026
Defendant (example complaint): Agostino Sebastiano Abbatiello (DOB 06/18/2002), 85 McKinley Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590
Offense period: January 2023 – November 2024
Locations referenced: 229 Locust Lane and 400 East Prospect Avenue / 310 South Allen Street, State College, PA (the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi houses)

Main charges listed against Abbatiello

Corrupt Organizations (18 Pa.C.S. § 911(b)(4)) – conspiracy with others including Lars Zeepvat, Robert Zanolla (spelled Zanella in places), Liam Smith, Thomas Robinson, Mohammed Huraibi, and others to transport and distribute cocaine into Centre County.
Conspiracy to violate the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act (Title 35, § 780-113(a)(30)).
Possession with intent to manufacture or deliver cocaine (multiple counts covering deliveries of 6–8 ounce quantities and larger amounts to Thomas Robinson and others).

Robert Zanolla, 24, of Manhasset, New York, faces felony conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility charges, plus related misdemeanors.

Paul Robinson, the father of Thomas Robinson, is the only non-student charged. He faces felony charges of tampering with evidence and hindering the investigation. Prosecutors say he helped hide a safe that contained drugs and cash.

Eight other people face misdemeanor charges of drug possession and paraphernalia. They are:

Liam Smith, Michael Brogno (also spelled Brogna in some documents)
Kaden Howe
Connor Hurleigh
Seth Beardsley
Kyle Ridpath
Daniel Price
Charles Wiseman

These men were current or former Penn State students around the time of the alleged crimes. At least four of the people charged overall are still enrolled at the university. Source: New York Post full list

The cocaine was mainly cut and packaged at the off-campus houses of Delta Upsilon (229 Locust Lane) and Sigma Chi (400 E. Prospect Avenue). Prosecutors said fraternity brothers and pledges did much of this work. One photo recovered from a phone showed Delta Upsilon pledges helping package cocaine after a large purchase. Payments were often made in cash or through apps. The drugs were then sold mostly to other students, often through personal connections, at houses, or at parties. Source: Newsweek and Attorney General details

State College police and the Attorney General’s office investigated for a long time. They used controlled purchases, search warrants, phone records, and grand jury testimony. Robinson’s room was searched and police found about 73 grams of cocaine there. Source: Criminal complaint and related reporting

Penn State responded by suspending Delta Upsilon while it investigates. Sigma Chi is not a university-recognized organization and operates outside official supervision. University officials said they are horrified by the allegations, will cooperate with law enforcement, and plan extra education on health, safety, and hazing prevention. Source: New York Post university response

All the charges are accusations. The people charged are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. The cases will be handled by the Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force. The investigation was called Operation Drugs Unlimited. Source: Official Pennsylvania Attorney General statement

This case shows how a drug operation can grow inside student social groups when senior members bring in large amounts of cocaine and involve younger members and pledges in the packaging and sales. Authorities said the conduct was serious and organized, not small-scale college partying.

Readers can verify every major detail by clicking the links above, which lead directly to the official announcement, the criminal complaint PDF, and independent news reports that covered the same facts.

NOTE: This article is categorized under BUSINESS and LAW AND ORDER because this was a clearly organized business running on campuses that are now facing law and order. This is a developing story. We are listing all documents as they are received from prosecutors.