In December 2024, police in State College, Pennsylvania, raided the Delta Upsilon fraternity house at Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) and proceeded to the room of Thomas Robinson, 22 years old.

According to court records, Robinson initially told officers, "I'm going to beat you guys up," before police subdued him with a taser and handcuffed him. He later admitted he "thought the officers were fraternity brothers playing a prank."

Police stated they found eight grams of cocaine, over 200 grams of marijuana, hundreds of pills, and a handgun in Robinson's room. Robinson was arrested on more than 10 felony drug charges.

Over the next 20 months, investigators uncovered a large-scale cocaine distribution network involving members, and even pledges, of two fraternities: Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi. Those implicated allegedly divided cocaine into half-gram baggies and sold them in State College from August 2022 to December 2024.

A multi-year grand jury investigation has since led to the arrest of 14 Penn State students and alumni, including alleged ringleader Agostino Abbatiello and Robinson's father, a Pittsburgh attorney.

The Delta Upsilon fraternity house at Penn State. *GGM*

"The actual drug transactions primarily occurred between friends, acquaintances, fraternity brothers, at fraternity houses, and during parties or social gatherings," Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday stated on 17/8.

The scale of the operation stirred up Penn State students. "It's like something you would only see in a movie," said Kahlie Wray, 20, editor-in-chief of the Daily Collegian, the school's independent newspaper.

Court records do not indicate whether the accused have entered pleas.

Cocaine network uncovered

In September 2024, police received a tip that large quantities of cocaine were being sold from the Delta Upsilon fraternity house by a student nicknamed "T-Rob".

From September to December, the informant made multiple controlled purchases of cocaine. Transactions were arranged via Robinson's Snapchat account, with drug money then transferred through the Venmo app. The entire process occurred under law enforcement surveillance.

After his arrest at the fraternity house in 2024, Robinson cooperated with investigators. Soon after, Robinson identified Abbatiello as his cocaine supplier. According to court records, Robinson had purchased cocaine in kilogram quantities from Abbatiello.

Abbatiello was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, majoring in accounting, and had previously been on the dean's list for his high academic achievements.

Police named Agostino Abbatiello and Thomas Robinson in connection with the drug ring at Penn State. *Fox*

Soon after, aided by testimony, investigators began piecing together details of the network, including frequent trips to Philadelphia and New York to acquire "large quantities of cocaine," which were then transported back to State College.

Was cocaine a fraternity initiation ritual?

What makes the case more concerning is the alleged role of the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternities in the drug trafficking operation.

"We uncovered a chain of events indicating that the breaking down and packaging of cocaine had become an initiation ritual for some individuals pledging Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi," Sunday explained.

One of the indicted alumni, Lars Zeepvat, 24, told authorities that Abbatiello coerced him into delivering cocaine after he failed to repay a 1,500 USD loan for a spring break trip.

Andrea Dowhower, Penn State's vice president for student affairs, stated that university leadership was "horrified by these serious allegations."

The university has issued a temporary suspension for Delta Upsilon. Sigma Chi, already unrecognized by Penn State due to prior drug and alcohol violations, also received a temporary suspension.

News of the investigation broke as Penn State students returned to campus for the fall semester. According to Attorney General Sunday, the case serves as a warning to students: "They need to understand that their actions always have consequences."

By Tue Anh (Source: People)