14 Arrested at PSU for major cocaine trafficking ring at 2 fraternities...

[Tgar]

If you want to hang out
you‘ve got to take her out…..

Cocaine.

 

[LaJollaCreek]

I was being facetious. I was there when the shooting happened. My point was that bad sh*t happens all the time and it happens everywhere. This isn’t a sign of some Penn State apocalypse.

I guess I’m just tired of reading the “I’m ashamed to be a Penn Stater” shtick in here every day in every thread. It’s usually just whining about how the football team is ruining their life with poor recruiting and not enough NIL. Now a bunch of people get arrested and many lives could be ruined yet posters are complaining about feeling embarrassed like they’re somehow the victim because they’re Penn State football fans.

Amen, the self pity game like this is impacting your life is a GD joke. If you're so GD fragile that criminals being caught dealing coke make you feel your somehow the victim or the football program is.....GTF offline for a minute and come up for some air. Nobody is walking around with a PSU hat today and people are running up to you for coke Francis...stop being drama queens. For 1-2 it's their only personality.

 

[Tgar]

If you wanna get down
down on the ground……

Cocaine

 

[BobPSU92]

You’re a stupid, well-heeled, out-of-state student. The perfect Penn Stater. Daddy says, “Put in the minimal amount of work, get your Penn Stater degree, and come home to watch your trust fund from our yot. Travel. Enjoy life.” Easy, peasy. What do these kids do? Become drug dealers, spend years in jail, and ruin their lives. For f*ck’s sake.

 

[Catch1lion]

You’re a stupid, well-heeled, out-of-state student. The perfect Penn Stater. Daddy says, “Put in the minimal amount of work, get your Penn Stater degree, and come home to watch your trust fund from our yot. Travel. Enjoy life.” Easy, peasy. What do these kids do? Become drug dealers, spend years in jail, and ruin their lives. For f*ck’s sake.

 

[PSUFTG]

Who knows how this will turn out - but it is always amazing the gigantic leaps-and-bounds that people will jump to, based on a prosecutor's statement and media reports (especially those from media outlets that know nothing - or nothing except "hurry up and click-bait").

One would have hoped that one positive for the PSU Community of the entire 2011 mess would be the injection of a healthy dose of discernment among the PSU folks wrt running of like a bunch of "hair on fire"s at the first dollop of one-sided info.

 

[Catch1lion]

Memes are everywhere on this topic .

 

[dcf4psu]

Class of 1985. Had two siblings, also graduates, email me the story. My only thought was I didn't think cocaine was still a thing.
PSU is in the middle of nowhere. How else are these things getting to the campus. It certainly was in my days. The only difference is there wasn't social media or the internet back then. This latest episode won't change these dynamics.

From 1987:

8 PSU students busted for drugs

8 PSU students busted for drugsNineteen persons, including at least eight University students and two local businessmen, were arrested yesterday on drug-related charges by the State College Bureau of Police

www.psucollegian.com

 

[LaJollaCreek]

Memes are everywhere on this topic .

 

[Connorpozlee]

Did these guys at least throw some of this money into the NIL fund?

 

[step.eng69]

Prominent Pittsburgh, Paul Robinson, Lawyer Arrested in Son’s Alleged Cocaine Trafficking Ring at Penn State

 

[dcf4psu]

From 1987:

8 PSU students busted for drugs

8 PSU students busted for drugsNineteen persons, including at least eight University students and two local businessmen, were arrested yesterday on drug-related charges by the State College Bureau of Police

www.psucollegian.com

IMO this is a sign of a slow news cycle. As long as there has been a drug culture there has been a market of college students in need here in Happy Valley. As I mentioned before the only thing surprising to me was that cocaine was still a thing for college students.

 

[step.eng69]

Dad busted in Penn State frat bro cocaine trafficking ring case is prominent Pittsburgh lawyer​

Paige Kahn and Jorge Fitz-Gibbon
A prominent Pittsburgh lawyer has been implicated in the Penn State frat brother drug trafficking scandal — with his son among the alleged ringleaders.

Paul Robinson, an attorney with the firm of Meyer, Darragh, Buckler, Bebeneck & Eck and onetime frat member, is charged with helping to hide evidence from an alleged multi-state cocaine-trafficking ring in the Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon fraternities at Penn State run by his son, Thomas, and other current and former students.

In all, 14 people were charged, with Thomas Robinson and Agostino Abbatiello described as the alleged ringleaders of the operation.

4
Paul Robinson and his son Thomas Robinson are seen in a photo posted to Facebook on July 21, 2026.

Paul Robinson is charged with felony tampering, hindering apprehension for taking steps to conceal evidence in the case, including a safe stuffed with cash and drugs and obstructing the investigation, state prosecutors said.

The elder Robinson earned a bachelor’s degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from New England School of Law in 1992, according to his company profile, which also lists Thomas as one of his children.

He was treasurer for Delta Sigma Phi as an undergrad, and a member of Phi Alpha Delta while in law school, according to his LinkedIn profile.

He was admitted to the bar in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and specializes in transportation, commercial, construction and insurance law.

4
Paul Robinson, the father of one of the students charged with helping to conceal evidence, is pictured on Monday, August 17, 2026.Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
He is currently a managing attorney at Meyer, Darragh, Buckler, Bebeneck & Eck based in Pittsburgh.

In a statement, the law firm told The Post it is aware of the charges filed against Robinson.

“The allegations concern Mr Robinson individually and do not involve the Firm, its clients, or the legal services provided by the Firm,” the statement continued. “The Firm is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the matter.”

Penn State announced Monday that it is placing Delta Upsilon on interim suspension while an investigation is conducted, but said Sigma Chi operates outside of the university’s oversight.

Prosecutors claim Thomas Robinson, a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity, and Nassau County resident Agostino Abbatiello, a Sigma Chi frat brother, were the alleged ringleaders of the drug-trading enterprise.

---

Follow the latest on the cocaine trafficking ring run by Penn State frat bros:​

• 13 Penn State frat bros busted in cocaine trafficking ring — including Long Island student at ‘top of the chain’
• ‘Top of the chain’ alleged ringleader behind Penn State frat bro cocaine trafficking ring turns himself in
• Dad busted in Penn State frat bro cocaine trafficking ring case is prominent Pittsburgh lawyer
• Penn State frat house gave TikTok tour hours before being busted as cocaine den

---

Abbatiello, 24, lives in a spacious single-family home in Westbury, valued at $1.4 million, according to property records.

The frats allegedly coordinated with suppliers in New York and Philadelphia.

When an undercover cop busted Robinson, the alleged dealer told authorities Abbatiello sold him batches of cocaine of up to one kilogram for as much as $22,000, a criminal complaint claims.


Paul Robinson (from left), an unnamed son, Laura Nee-Robinson, an unnamed daughter and Thomas Robinson are pictured in a photo posted to Facebook on April 10, 2023.Facebook/Paul Robinson

“We are horrified by these serious allegations against current and former students,” said Andrea Dowhower, vice president for Student Affairs at the college.

“Criminal activity, including hazing, such as this has no place at our institution, and we will cooperate with law enforcement in any way we can. We will continue to enhance our efforts around health and safety and hazing educational efforts for all our organizations.”

The charges were announced Monday by Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, who called it “a coordinated and highly-profitable drug-trafficking crew” involving frat brothers and their families.

In a new press release, the attorney general said Abbatiello surrendered Tuesday morning and was arraigned.

What do you think? Post a comment.
“We are pleased to report that the most significant members of this cocaine-trafficking organization are accounted for, and will have their fair process in court,” Sunday said Tuesday. “These are very serious charges and the next steps will be preliminary hearings.”

Paul Robinson did not return calls seeking comment Tuesday. His son could not immediately be reached for comment.

Abbatiello’s dad, Mario Abbatiello, told The Post Tuesday: “We have no comment. We have nothing to do with this. We have no comment.”

 

[Chumboshifko1]

Robinson = terd.

 

[step.eng69]

Robinson = terd.

So was Mrs. Robinson

 

[Catch1lion]

So was Mrs. Robinson

 

[manatree]

From 1987:

8 PSU students busted for drugs

8 PSU students busted for drugsNineteen persons, including at least eight University students and two local businessmen, were arrested yesterday on drug-related charges by the State College Bureau of Police

www.psucollegian.com

From 1985

Yuppie cocaine ring broken
Jeanette Krebs
Daily Collegian
Aug 23, 1985

Seven men, including five University graduates, have been charged with supplying cocaine to the State College area as part of a multimillion dollar cocaine ring that distributed the drug in the Northeastern part of the country.

 

[massimoManca II]

Dad busted in Penn State frat bro cocaine trafficking ring case is prominent Pittsburgh lawyer​

Paige Kahn and Jorge Fitz-Gibbon
A prominent Pittsburgh lawyer has been implicated in the Penn State frat brother drug trafficking scandal — with his son among the alleged ringleaders.

Paul Robinson, an attorney with the firm of Meyer, Darragh, Buckler, Bebeneck & Eck and onetime frat member, is charged with helping to hide evidence from an alleged multi-state cocaine-trafficking ring in the Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon fraternities at Penn State run by his son, Thomas, and other current and former students.

In all, 14 people were charged, with Thomas Robinson and Agostino Abbatiello described as the alleged ringleaders of the operation.

4
Paul Robinson and his son Thomas Robinson are seen in a photo posted to Facebook on July 21, 2026.

Paul Robinson is charged with felony tampering, hindering apprehension for taking steps to conceal evidence in the case, including a safe stuffed with cash and drugs and obstructing the investigation, state prosecutors said.

The elder Robinson earned a bachelor’s degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from New England School of Law in 1992, according to his company profile, which also lists Thomas as one of his children.

He was treasurer for Delta Sigma Phi as an undergrad, and a member of Phi Alpha Delta while in law school, according to his LinkedIn profile.

He was admitted to the bar in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, and specializes in transportation, commercial, construction and insurance law.

4
Paul Robinson, the father of one of the students charged with helping to conceal evidence, is pictured on Monday, August 17, 2026.Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
He is currently a managing attorney at Meyer, Darragh, Buckler, Bebeneck & Eck based in Pittsburgh.

In a statement, the law firm told The Post it is aware of the charges filed against Robinson.

“The allegations concern Mr Robinson individually and do not involve the Firm, its clients, or the legal services provided by the Firm,” the statement continued. “The Firm is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the matter.”

Penn State announced Monday that it is placing Delta Upsilon on interim suspension while an investigation is conducted, but said Sigma Chi operates outside of the university’s oversight.

Prosecutors claim Thomas Robinson, a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity, and Nassau County resident Agostino Abbatiello, a Sigma Chi frat brother, were the alleged ringleaders of the drug-trading enterprise.

---

Follow the latest on the cocaine trafficking ring run by Penn State frat bros:​

• 13 Penn State frat bros busted in cocaine trafficking ring — including Long Island student at ‘top of the chain’
• ‘Top of the chain’ alleged ringleader behind Penn State frat bro cocaine trafficking ring turns himself in
• Dad busted in Penn State frat bro cocaine trafficking ring case is prominent Pittsburgh lawyer
• Penn State frat house gave TikTok tour hours before being busted as cocaine den

---

Abbatiello, 24, lives in a spacious single-family home in Westbury, valued at $1.4 million, according to property records.

The frats allegedly coordinated with suppliers in New York and Philadelphia.

When an undercover cop busted Robinson, the alleged dealer told authorities Abbatiello sold him batches of cocaine of up to one kilogram for as much as $22,000, a criminal complaint claims.


Paul Robinson (from left), an unnamed son, Laura Nee-Robinson, an unnamed daughter and Thomas Robinson are pictured in a photo posted to Facebook on April 10, 2023.Facebook/Paul Robinson

“We are horrified by these serious allegations against current and former students,” said Andrea Dowhower, vice president for Student Affairs at the college.

“Criminal activity, including hazing, such as this has no place at our institution, and we will cooperate with law enforcement in any way we can. We will continue to enhance our efforts around health and safety and hazing educational efforts for all our organizations.”

The charges were announced Monday by Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, who called it “a coordinated and highly-profitable drug-trafficking crew” involving frat brothers and their families.

In a new press release, the attorney general said Abbatiello surrendered Tuesday morning and was arraigned.

What do you think? Post a comment.
“We are pleased to report that the most significant members of this cocaine-trafficking organization are accounted for, and will have their fair process in court,” Sunday said Tuesday. “These are very serious charges and the next steps will be preliminary hearings.”

Paul Robinson did not return calls seeking comment Tuesday. His son could not immediately be reached for comment.

Abbatiello’s dad, Mario Abbatiello, told The Post Tuesday: “We have no comment. We have nothing to do with this. We have no comment.”

“Prominent Attorney “
Just asked a good friend - an attorney practicing for 30yrs in the 814, if he’d ever heard of the father … nope.

Unsubstantiated fact: “prominent attorneys” typically don’t come out of schools like Edinboro

 

[BobPSU92]

“Prominent Attorney “
Just asked a good friend - an attorney practicing for 30yrs in the 814, if he’d ever heard of the father … nope.

Unsubstantiated fact: “prominent attorneys” typically don’t come out of schools like Edinboro

And New England School of Law? Never heard of it.

 

[TheBigUglies]

From 1985

Yuppie cocaine ring broken
Jeanette Krebs
Daily Collegian
Aug 23, 1985

So this ring was busted, new ring being set up in 3...2.....1....... - opportunity is there knocking for someone else

 

[LaJollaCreek]

So this ring was busted, new ring being set up in 3...2.....1....... - opportunity is there knocking for someone else

You’re not wrong and someone will.

 

[manatree]

In all honesty, Penn State has a more serious but less clickable issue going on.


Penn State Police Dispatcher Helped Former Student Illegally Access Law Enforcement Radios, Investigators Say
StateCollege.com
Geoff Rushton
August 18, 2026 – 6:50 pm

A Penn State University Police dispatcher was charged on Tuesday for allegedly stealing equipment and helping a former student auxiliary officer illegally access law enforcement radio programming.

Edward J. Veneziano II, 40, of Liberty Township, is also accused of accessing databases without authorization for use in his separate role as a constable.

Veneziano in 2024 allowed Zuoyu “Eric” Wu inside the Penn State University Police dispatch center, where Wu accessed a Pennsylvania State Police radio to bypass its security protections and obtain its programming information, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by a university police detective. In the presence of Veneziano, who knew the purpose of the activity, Wu connected the radio to computer equipment that he used to access and extract its electronic configuration and programming data, the detective wrote.

Wu was arrested in May on charges of unlawful use of computers and computer trespass for allegedly accessing protected computers, programs and equipment outside the scope of his duties as a student auxiliary officer between 2021 and 2024. A document filed before his arraignment and later viewed by StateCollege.com indicated that Wu is the subject of a federal investigation related to “critical infrastructure,” though the specifics have not been disclosed.

Former Penn State Student Charged With Computer Crimes, Held on $2 Million Bail
StateCollege.com
Geoff Rushton
May 15, 2026 – 3:07 pm

 

[psu7113]

If someone has to package drugs as a condition of gaining membership, I'd think someone at some level of the house leadership hierarchy had to have known. Even if it's the rush leader (or whatever they call it at the first level), someone was setting conditions which encouraged potential members to commit crimes in the houses on behalf of the organizations. It doesn't seem like it matters if it happened in the privacy of a room or at an official pledge function. The pledges didn't just decide to do it on their own. It was reportedly a coordinated effort between members of both houses to transport drugs from Philly and NYC, so it was more than just a couple rouge dudes at each house acting independently.

But I'm not an attorney and I'm sure an attorney or two will jump in and let me know I'm wrong because, of course, non-attorneys are dummies. Maybe the whole thing will be chalked up to frat boys being frat boys. Maybe the AG has no interest in trying to be aggressive regarding drug trafficking. Anyway, whatever happens, happens. Not my circus - not my monkeys.

But the fraternity members involved, chapter leadership or not, don’t own the house. What you outline in your post is a basis for the university severely disciplining or ending the chapter, but not likely the AG seizing the house. Very unlikely that the entity that owned the house knew what was going on, much less condoned it. If they did, then of course it would be a whole different story.

 

[Nittering Nabob]

In all honesty, Penn State has a more serious but less clickable issue going on.


Penn State Police Dispatcher Helped Former Student Illegally Access Law Enforcement Radios, Investigators Say
StateCollege.com
Geoff Rushton
August 18, 2026 – 6:50 pm



Former Penn State Student Charged With Computer Crimes, Held on $2 Million Bail
StateCollege.com
Geoff Rushton
May 15, 2026 – 3:07 pm

What a weird story. Is it suspected that he was working for the CCP?

 

[Bwifan]

But the fraternity members involved, chapter leadership or not, don’t own the house. What you outline in your post is a basis for the university severely disciplining or ending the chapter, but not likely the AG seizing the house. Very unlikely that the entity that owned the house knew what was going on, much less condoned it. If they did, then of course it would be a whole different story.

It's going to be really intersesting to see as facts come out as well as what the law truly says and is interpreted. We don't have close to all the facts, plus who knows what has been told and willing to testify so far that is not public. My hunch would be there are several people willing to get reduced sentences to spill their guts on everything they saw and did and where they did all this... plus who knew what was going on.... Get your popcorn ready....

 

[CrazyUncleTony]

Are there gonna be any frats left

 

[CrazyUncleTony]

Man are their any "good" fraternities at PSU? I did not attend so really don't know. I think the SAEs are pretty good? My sister who attended in the early 80s seemed to think that at least back then. There was a guy in our neighborhood who was my older sister's age who was an SAE at dear old State and he was a stand up guy.

What about Sigma Nu? My father and uncle were Sigma Nus waaaaay back. Another uncle was an Acacia I believe.

Is there such thing as a “good” fraternity?

 

[Tgar]

She don’t lie
She don’t lie
She don’t lie ……..

Cocaine.

 

[pamdlion]

If you had to place a bet that it involved a kid from Long Island it was easy money.

 

[Aardvark86]

“Prominent Attorney “
Just asked a good friend - an attorney practicing for 30yrs in the 814, if he’d ever heard of the father … nope.

Unsubstantiated fact: “prominent attorneys” typically don’t come out of schools like Edinboro

Honestly, while one's law school really doesn't have that much to do with whether you're "good" since law schools don't teach most of what is relevant to the actual practice of law, an attorney getting busted for obstruction-related offenses is pretty much an instant ticket to the press designating him or her as "prominent".

That said, as a member of a PGH firm that I would argue is actually "prominent," I will say that my sense of schadenfreude led me to immediately take a quick peek to see if it was any of my colleagues.

Also also wik. I think I went to high school with the VP-SA. I suspect that is one of those jobs that is ordinarily pretty much completely standardless and therefore practically unaccountable, until they get thrown into a crisis that their training and career path have left them wholly unprepared for.

 

[CrazyUncleTony]

Just sitting here remembering when “Penn State Proud“ was a thing.

One of the reasons 2011 was so much more rough is because we built this facade that we were squeaky clean. We never were. I am still Penn State Proud bc I know our program was cleaner than most but we still weren’t perfect. I’m not gonna feel worse about my school just bc some dick head frat boys and his lawyer father thought they were above the law and got popped.

 

[BobPSU92]

One of the reasons 2011 was so much more rough is because we built this facade that we were squeaky clean. We never were. I am still Penn State Proud bc I know our program was cleaner than most but we still weren’t perfect. I’m not gonna feel worse about my school just bc some dick head frat boys and his lawyer father thought they were above the law and got popped.

There are so many other reasons for us to feel worse about our school.

 

[Binder74]

Are there gonna be any frats left

I'm sure I'm speaking for the minority but I didn't have any interest in them when I was there in the early 70's.

 

[bbrown]

I'm sure I'm speaking for the minority but I didn't have any interest in them when I was there in the early 70's.

Ditto and I was there in the early 80’s

 

[CrazyUncleTony]

EZ Delt

My dad has some stories

 

[Catch1lion]

And New England School of Law? Never heard of it.

Rumor has it is just a bunch of chowder heads.

 

[CrazyUncleTony]

I'm sure I'm speaking for the minority but I didn't have any interest in them when I was there in the early 70's.

Me neither lol. Partied plenty. Met lots of women.

 

[Aardvark86]

I'm sure I'm speaking for the minority but I didn't have any interest in them when I was there in the early 70's.

A pretty common 70s thing, actually...until of course Animal House came along.

 

[BobPSU92]

I'm sure I'm speaking for the minority but I didn't have any interest in them when I was there in the early 70's.

I didn‘t set foot in a frat while I was at PSU. No interest. Granted, they wouldn’t let me in under any circumstances, but still.

 

[step.eng69]