Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday recently addressed ongoing concerns regarding an alleged cocaine trafficking ring operating through fraternities at Penn State. Authorities have uncovered details suggesting a significant drug network rather than isolated incidents of drug sharing among students.
At a news conference, Sunday highlighted the scale of the operation, noting that approximately 1 kilogram of cocaine circulated through the system every other month, labelling it an ‘upper-level trafficking organization.’ He emphasized the sophistication of the operation, distinguishing it from casual drug use among college students.
This was a very sophisticated endeavor. This wasn’t just a couple kids at college who were sharing drugs with each other,Sunday asserted on ‘The Story.’
The ongoing investigation has resulted in felony and misdemeanor charges against 14 individuals, including both current and former students from Penn State, for activities allegedly carried out between 2023 and 2024.
Agostino Abbatiello, 24, and Thomas Robinson, 23, have been identified as the suspected leaders of this enterprise. Reports suggest they traveled to cities like Philadelphia and New York to procure substantial amounts of cocaine. According to prosecutors, they organized transactions using Snapchat and processed payments through Venmo.
The case has drawn significant attention, with Sunday expressing his concern over such operations sustaining over a prolonged period. The attorney general also mentioned that pledges at the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternities were allegedly coerced into drug activities as part of their initiation. He acknowledged the role of peer pressure in influencing these young individuals’ participation.
When you’re young… and this isn’t an excuse, but, peer pressure is one of the most powerful forms of motivation in the world,Sunday stated.
The allegations against Penn State arrive nearly ten years after another infamous fraternity incident in 2017, which involved the death of 19-year-old Tim Piazza during a hazing ritual.
In response, Penn State expressed its shock and took immediate action by placing Delta Upsilon on interim suspension, though it does not officially recognize Sigma Chi due to its independent operation from university oversight.
During an interview with Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum, Sunday mentioned his hopes for Penn State to handle the situation appropriately, considering its past fraternity-related controversies. Sunday noted a willingness on the university’s part to work collaboratively in addressing and potentially resolving these issues.