Who’s Agostino Abbatiello? Accused mastermind of Penn State cocaine ring surrenders – NBC New York
A 24-year-old Lengthy Island man accused of operating a school cocaine pipeline behind fraternity home doorways at Penn State College surrendered to authorities on Tuesday.
Agostino Abbatiello, of Westbury, New York, appeared earlier than a decide on a number of felony expenses, together with possession and conspiracy. He was denied bail.
The so-called “ring chief” of the PSU cocaine-trafficking ring was charged alongside 13 different defendants this week for alleged drug exercise in 2023 and 2024.
In accordance with the Pennsylvania legal professional basic, Abbatiello and one other defendant, Thomas Robinson, would journey from campus to New York Metropolis and Philadelphia “for giant portions of cocaine.” The boys would return to the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi off-campus frat homes the place the medication can be reduce and packaged by fraternity brothers and pledges, earlier than being distributed to college students, officers allege.
“This was a coordinated and highly-profitable drug-trafficking crew revolving round two senior members of the fraternities, different fraternity brothers, and pledges,” Legal professional Common Dave Sunday stated in asserting the fees.
In all, 14 individuals had been charged within the drug operation with all however one being Penn State College college students at or across the time of the alleged conduct. At the very least 4 of these charged are present college students.
“We didn’t hear of any drug packaging occurring on Penn State’s campus,” Sunday stated. “Once more, the packaging occurred at off-campus fraternity homes. And the precise drug dealing was largely from good friend to good friend, fraternity brother to fraternity brother, acquaintance to acquaintance and at fraternity homes and/or throughout events or social engagements.”
Abbatiello, Robinson and two different college students — recognized as Mohammed Hurabi and Lars Zeepvat — had been charged with felony corrupt organizations, conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of illegal exercise and different associated offenses.
A fifth scholar, Robert Zanolla, was charged with felony conspiracy, felony use of communication facility and different associated misdemeanors.
Eight different college students, Liam Smith, Michael Brogno, Kaden Howe, Connor Hurleigh, Seth Beardsley, Kyle Ridpath, Daniel Value and Charles Wiseman, had been charged with misdemeanor counts of drug possession and paraphernalia.
The lone non-Penn State scholar who was charged was recognized as Paul Robinson, the daddy of Thomas Robinson, Sunday stated. In accordance with investigators, Paul Robinson, 59, is accused of concealing proof by stashing medication and money in a secure. He’s additionally accused of obstructing the investigation.
In an announcement, Penn State stated Delta Upsilon was positioned on interim suspension. Penn State additionally stated that Sigma Chi will not be a acknowledged group and that it operates exterior of the college’s assist and oversight.
Michael J. Church, Sigma Chi’s government director, stated in an announcement to NBC Information that the alleged conduct “is an egregious violation of our values” and all three members charged have been suspended pending the investigation. Church additionally stated the chapter has been positioned “on interim suspension of all operations whereas we decide whether or not these allegations replicate particular person conduct or organized chapter exercise.”
