14 arrested in Penn State cocaine ring scandal<\/h4>\n
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday and former acting DEA Administrator Derek Maltz weigh in on a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation at Penn State University. Authorities arrested fourteen individuals, including current and former students, for running a drug ring that used popular cash apps and Snapchat to distribute cocaine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n After news of the alleged Penn State fraternity coke ring broke earlier this week, individual complaints released by the Office of the Attorney General in Pennsylvania provide more specifics into each suspect’s alleged involvement.<\/p>\n Those 14 complaints detail an alleged hierarchy within the cocaine-trafficking operation, from accused suppliers and distributors to fraternity members allegedly tasked with weighing, packaging and delivering cocaine.<\/p>\n Here are the suspects and their alleged roles.<\/p>\n All defendants are innocent until proven guilty.<\/p>\n Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that Agostino Abbatiello, 24, turned himself in Tuesday morning, was arraigned and denied bail. He is the accused Penn State coke kingpin.<\/span> (Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General Dave Sunday)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 1. Agostino “Pablo Pledgescobar” Abbatiello<\/strong><\/p>\n Alleged position: “Top of food chain” according to prosecutors.<\/p>\n Hometown: Westbury, New York<\/p>\n Age: 24<\/p>\n Major: Accounting<\/p>\n Fraternity: Sigma Chi<\/p>\n He reportedly made the Dean’s list at the university and “had a passion for numbers and financial storytelling” the New York Post reports. He is facing numerous felony charges.<\/p>\n SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS<\/strong><\/p>\n Thomas Robinson, 22, is facing felony charges for his alleged involvement in the downstream logistics of the operation.<\/span> (Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General Dave Sunday)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 2. Thomas Robinson<\/strong><\/p>\n Alleged position: Downstream Logistics\/Distribution<\/p>\n Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania<\/p>\n Age: 22<\/p>\n Major: Human Resources and Management<\/p>\n Fraternity: Delta Upsilon<\/p>\n Robinson allegedly worked closely with Abbatiello and distributed cocaine from his frat to Penn State students, using Snapchat to sell to others. Detectives relied on confidential informants to bust the operation \u2013 an informant who purchased drugs from Robinson blew the operation open. He ultimately gave up his partner in crime \u2013 Abbatiello \u2013 once arrested.<\/p>\n MAN WANTED IN ROBBERY TIED TO PENN STATE STUDENT’S MURDER NOW SOUGHT AFTER OFF-DUTY COP SHOOTOUT<\/strong><\/p>\n Mohammed Huraibi, 22, is facing felony charges in the alleged cocaine distribution ring.<\/span> (Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General Dave Sunday)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 3. Mohammed Huraibi<\/strong><\/p>\n Alleged position: Early distributor<\/p>\n Hometown: Secaucus, New Jersey<\/p>\n Age: 22<\/p>\n Major: Accounting\/Finance<\/p>\n Fraternity: Delta Upsilon<\/p>\n According to court documents, he introduced Robinson to Abbatiello. Hurabi and Robinson initially split the cost on bulk cocaine purchases before Hurabi attempted to buy out of the partnership in late 2023. Despite stepping back from the bulk operation, he allegedly continued selling drugs to someone at another fraternity<\/p>\n JEANINE PIRRO CALLS OUT ‘DIRTBAGS’ AFTER 14 CHARGED IN ALLEGED COCAINE RING OPERATING FEET FROM A SCHOOLYARD<\/strong><\/p>\n Lars Zeepvat, 24, is accused of sourcing the drug and transporting it in the operation.<\/span> (Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General Dave Sunday)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 4. Lars Zeepvat<\/strong><\/p>\n Alleged position: Business partner to Abbatiello and distributor<\/p>\n Hometown: Mendham, New Jersey<\/p>\n Age: 24<\/p>\n Major: Accounting<\/p>\n Fraternity: Sigma Chi<\/p>\n Zeepvat and Abbatiello were “close friends” investigators say. Court documents say, “Zeepvat explained that he was a cocaine user and when he first came to Penn State, he had a source for cocaine in Philadelphia.” He would use the source to obtain the drug.<\/p>\n PARENTS WHO LOST CHILDREN TO COLLEGE HAZING SPENT 4,000 DAYS FIGHTING FOR FEDERAL LAW IN NEW DOCUMENTARY<\/strong><\/p>\n Robert Zanolla, 24, is accused of helping transport cocaine from New York City to State College, Pennsylvania.<\/span> (Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General Dave Sunday)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 5. Robert Zanolla<\/strong><\/p>\n Alleged position: Suspected of moving cocaine from New York City<\/p>\n Hometown: Manhasset, New York<\/p>\n Age: 24<\/p>\n Major: Unlisted<\/p>\n Fraternity: Sigma Chi<\/p>\n Allegedly worked closely with Zeepvat to make trips to the city to pick the drug up and bring it back to the State College area. Abbatiello offered to pay Zanolla to do it. The duo reportedly made three trips to purchase cocaine for Abbatiello.<\/p>\n MIAMI SECRET SERVICE AGENT CHARGED IN NEAR-DEADLY FRATERNITY HAZING, OFFICIALS SAY<\/strong><\/p>\n Paul Robinson, 59, is accused of helping his son, Thomas Robinson, conceal evidence in a safe, a complaint alleges.<\/span> (Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General Dave Sunday)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 6. Paul Robinson<\/strong><\/p>\n Alleged position: Helped son conceal evidence<\/p>\n Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania<\/p>\n Age: 59<\/p>\n Connection: Father to Thomas Robinson, is accused of concealing said evidence by his alleged possession of a safe containing coke and cash from his son\u2019s alleged dealings.<\/p>\n Exterior of the Delta Upsilon fraternity house in State College. Penn., April, 2025. The Penn State University frat house is one of two at the center of an alleged cocaine trafficking ring which was announced in a press conference by State Attorney General Dave Sunday, Monday, August 17, 2026. (Google Maps)<\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 7. Michael Brogno Jr.<\/strong><\/p>\n Alleged position: Packaging coke as a pledge.<\/p>\n Hometown: Ellicott City, Maryland<\/p>\n Age: 20<\/p>\n Major: Finance<\/p>\n Fraternity: Delta Upsilon<\/p>\n Documents say Brogno packaged and delivered cocaine at Robinson\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n The Pennsylvania Attorney General announced cocaine was allegedly cut and packaged at the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternity houses and distributed to Penn State University students.<\/span> (Kelsie Cairns)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 8. Kaden Howe<\/strong><\/p>\n Alleged position: Delivery help<\/p>\n Hometown: Monmouth Court, New Jersey<\/p>\n Age: 22<\/p>\n Major: Energy Engineering<\/p>\n Fraternity: Acacia<\/p>\n Facing misdemeanor charges for allegedly purchasing\/delivering cocaine from Robinson and Huraibi.<\/p>\n Penn State fraternity brothers and others are facing charges associated with an alleged off-campus cocaine ring.<\/span> (Getty Images: Yevhenii Orlov)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 9. Connor Hurleigh<\/strong><\/p>\n Alleged position: Packaging and delivery support<\/p>\n Hometown: Oakdale, New York<\/p>\n Age: 22<\/p>\n Major: Unlisted<\/p>\n Fraternity: Delta Upsilon<\/p>\n Complaint alleges he purchased cocaine from Robinson and assisted with packaging and delivery<\/p>\n GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL<\/strong><\/p>\n Exterior of the Sigma Chi fraternity house in State College. Penn., April, 2025. The Penn State University frat house is one of two at the center of an alleged cocaine trafficking ring which was announced in a press conference by State Attorney General Dave Sunday, Monday, August 17, 2026. (Google Maps)<\/span> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 10. Seth Beardsley<\/strong><\/p>\n Alleged position: Packaging support<\/p>\n Hometown: Mechanicsburgh, Pennsylvania<\/p>\n Age: 20<\/p>\n Major: Supply Chain Information Systems<\/p>\n Fraternity: Delta Upsilon<\/p>\n Beardsley is facing misdemeanor drug charges for allegedly packaging cocaine and using a digital scale under Robinson\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n LISTEN TO THE NEW ‘CRIME & JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO’ PODCAST<\/strong><\/p>\n 11. Daniel Price<\/strong><\/p>\n Alleged position: Packaging support<\/p>\n Hometown: Media, Pennsylvania<\/p>\n Age: 21<\/p>\n Major:<\/p>\n Fraternity: Delta Upsilon<\/p>\n Price is facing misdemeanor charges.<\/p>\n LIKE WHAT YOU’RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE<\/strong><\/p>\n 12. Kyle Ridpath<\/strong><\/p>\n Alleged position: Packaging help<\/p>\n Hometown: Media, Pennsylvania<\/p>\n Age: 21<\/p>\n Major:<\/p>\n Fraternity: Delta Upsilon<\/p>\n Ridpath is facing misdemeanor charges.<\/p>\n FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X<\/strong><\/p>\n Penn State fraternity brothers and others are facing charges in an alleged off-campus coke ring.<\/span> (Getty Images: GRICHKA BEYSSON-LEANDRI)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n 13. Liam Smith<\/strong><\/p>\n Alleged position: Purchaser\/Packaging support<\/p>\n Hometown: Garden City, New Jersey<\/p>\n Age: 23<\/p>\n Major: Unlisted<\/p>\n Fraternity: Court filings do not explicitly specify a formal fraternity affiliation for Smith.<\/p>\n Smith reportedly bought cocaine from Abbatiello while the pair were roommates “on at least ten occasions” court documents say. He also helped to package the drug five different times. He is facing misdemeanor charges.<\/p>\n SEND US A TIP<\/strong><\/p>\n 14. Charlie Weisman<\/strong><\/p>\n Alleged position: Packaging assistance<\/p>\n Hometown: Mount Airy, Maryland<\/p>\n Age: 20<\/p>\n Major: Chemical Engineering<\/p>\n Fraternity: Delta Upsilon<\/p>\n Weisman reportedly helped Robison by packaging coke in baggies and using a digital scale to weigh the drug. He is facing misdemeanor charges.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 14 arrested in Penn State cocaine ring scandal Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday and former…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24733,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24732"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24732\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"mug](\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1200\/675\/penn-state-alleged-coke-kingpin-surrenders-denied-bail-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1\")
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