Fourteen individuals have been charged in connection with a multi-state cocaine operation involving members of Penn State fraternities Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi. Court documents reveal that the suspects allegedly used Cash App and Snapchat to arrange drug transactions.
Agostino Abbatiello, 24, identified as the alleged kingpin of the operation and online as "Pablo Pledgescobar," surrendered to authorities and was denied bail. Court complaints detail Abbatiello and his associates in the purchase, packaging, transportation, sale, and distribution of cocaine.
One complaint states that an associate of Abbatiello sent approximately $30,000 to the alleged ringleader via Cash App in exchange for drugs. Court documents also allege that Snapchat was used to "facilitate the delivery of cocaine to known persons."
Suspects Thomas Michael Robinson, 23, and Mohammed Huraibi, 22, are also named in the complaints. Huraibi reportedly testified before a grand jury that he used Snapchat to set up his first cocaine purchase from Abbatiello in the fall of 2023. The agreement was to buy about 100 grams of cocaine for $4,000, with both Robinson and Huraibi contributing cash. Abbatiello allegedly delivered the drugs to Delta Upsilon fraternity, where the transaction took place.
Robinson is accused of facilitating the delivery of suspected cocaine in 2024 using a Snapchat account under the name "Tommy Robinson."
The operation allegedly involved importing cocaine from New York and Philadelphia, with pledges reportedly involved in cutting and packaging the drugs. The charges come amid increased scrutiny of fraternity activities, with anti-hazing advocate Evelyn Piazza commenting on the drug trafficking and hazing charges.
