Thirteen former or current Penn State University students have been criminally charged in connection with a cocaine-trafficking ring that involved two fraternities, authorities announced Monday.
Two of the defendants are identified as the main suppliers who made regular trips to Philadelphia and New York to obtain large quantities of cocaine. The illicit substance was then packaged primarily at the Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon fraternity houses located off-campus and distributed mainly to students at the university, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday stated at a news conference that part of the operation involved indoctrinating some fraternity pledges by having them cut and bag cocaine. Sunday described the conduct as “very serious criminal conduct” and not “junior or childlike,” adding that it represented an “upper level trafficking organization for this region in Pennsylvania.”
Of the 14 defendants charged, 13 are identified as Penn State students at or around the time of the alleged crimes, which occurred between 2023 and 2024. At least four of the defendants are currently enrolled students, the attorney general’s office reported.
Four defendants face felony charges including corrupt organizations, conspiracy, and other offenses. A fifth defendant is charged with felony conspiracy and additional crimes. Eight other student-aged defendants are charged with misdemeanor counts, such as possession. One defendant, identified as the father of a student, is accused of tampering with evidence and hindering the investigation.
In response to the allegations, Penn State University announced it has placed Delta Upsilon on interim suspension pending the outcome of its investigation. The university noted that Sigma Chi is not recognized by the university and operates outside of its oversight.
Justin Kirk, Executive Director of Delta Upsilon, issued a statement acknowledging awareness of the allegations. He confirmed that individuals with ties to Delta Upsilon have been expelled or suspended if they did not resign, and stated the international fraternity will continue to cooperate with university investigative efforts. The Sigma Chi headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, has not yet responded to a request for comment. Sunday reported that the majority of defendants facing felony charges were arraigned Monday morning.