Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday recently discussed the potential legal actions against Penn State after uncovering a suspected cocaine trafficking ring involving the university’s fraternities.
Authorities revealed that approximately one kilogram of cocaine circulated through the operation every other month. At a news conference, Sunday described the enterprise as an “upper-level trafficking organization.” He stated, “This was a very sophisticated endeavor. This wasn’t merely college students sharing drugs.”
The attorney general’s inquiry into this serious and organized drug trafficking organization implicates both Penn State fraternities and students.
Law enforcement has charged fourteen individuals, including current and former students, with felonies or misdemeanors related to illicit activities spanning from 2023 to 2024. Prosecutors identified Agostino Abbatiello, 24, and Thomas Robinson, 23, as the suspected leaders. They allegedly traveled frequently to Philadelphia and New York to acquire large quantities of powder cocaine. They reportedly arranged drug deals via Snapchat and accepted payments through Venmo.
Sunday expressed his concern: “As the attorney general, I have significant concerns with organizations operating like this for such a long duration,” he told Fox News.
Allegations suggest Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternity pledges were instructed to cut and package cocaine as part of their initiation process. The attorney general pointed to peer pressure as a motivating factor: “Peer pressure is a powerful form of motivation, especially for the young.”
In response, Penn State stated it is “horrified” by the accusations and has placed Delta Upsilon on interim suspension. The university does not recognize Sigma Chi since it operates independently from university oversight.
This controversy emerges nearly a decade after another high-profile fraternity incident at Penn State. In 2017, 19-year-old Tim Piazza died after excessive alcohol consumption during a hazing event at the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
Attorney General Sunday announced that 14 individuals face charges for their roles in the off-campus cocaine trafficking network.
In an interview with Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum, Sunday discussed the possibility of action against Penn State in light of the drug ring and past fraternity incidents. He expressed hope for the university’s proactive stance, “My hope is that Penn State will take appropriate actions in these circumstances. The university has been open to collaboration thus far, and I hope we can address these issues collectively.”
Nora Moriarty, a writer at Fox News Digital, contributed to this report.
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