A recent investigation has unveiled a troubling cocaine trafficking network linked to a pair of fraternities at Penn State University, leading to the indictment of 14 individuals, including a former student from New York.
Key Player Identified
Agostino Abbatiello, a 24-year-old graduate from Penn State, has been identified as a significant player within this alleged drug operation. According to prosecutors, he was positioned at the apex of the distribution chain, operating from his residence in Westbury, Long Island. The attorney general emphasized, “Abbatiello was at the very top of the chain,” highlighting his central role in the activities associated with the fraternities Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon.
Fraternity Culture and Allegations
Prosecutors allege that these organizations contributed to a culture where drug use and hazing were normalized. They stated that the physical handling of cocaine was, for some pledges, a method of initiation into the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternities. In response to the allegations, the university expressed their horror, firmly stating that such criminal behavior, including hazing, is intolerable at their institution.
The investigation into the drug activities, allegedly occurring during 2023 and 2024, culminated in the announcement of 14 indictments. Notably, Paul Robinson, a parent of one of the students and an attorney, was also charged for attempting to hide evidence related to the case.
Among those arrested was Robert Zanolla, a 24-year-old from Manhasset, who is accused of assisting in the distribution of cocaine from New York City. When approached by reporters, a resident at Zanolla’s connected address declined to comment.
The attorney general urged that these arrests should serve as a cautionary tale for students. He remarked, “Just because you’re at college and you’re making money and you think that this is something you can get away with… it’s not.” With the ongoing investigation, officials aspire to convey a strong message to students heading to campuses across the country this semester.
Some of the neighbors of those charged voiced their concerns, urging for a supportive approach. One resident noted the emotional weight of these events, saying, “If you’re not in a good place, call your parents, call somebody that you love that will help you—that’s really what it’s about. It’s unfortunate, and I hope these boys are OK and their future’s OK.”
