Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday has addressed potential actions following the discovery of an alleged cocaine trafficking ring at Penn State University. Authorities disclosed that approximately 1 kilogram of cocaine was distributed every two months through the university’s fraternities. Sunday characterized the organization as an ‘upper-level trafficking operation’ in a news conference.
‘This was a sophisticated operation, not merely college students sharing drugs among themselves,’ Sunday explained during an appearance on ‘The Story.’
Investigations and Charges
The investigation has resulted in charges against 14 individuals, including current and past Penn State students. The charges range from felonies to misdemeanors, linked to alleged activities from 2023 to 2024. Agostino Abbatiello, 24, and Thomas Robinson, 23, were identified as key suspects. They reportedly traveled regularly to Philadelphia and New York to obtain large quantities of cocaine, conducting deals through Snapchat and accepting payments via Venmo.
Organizations like this, which have operated for a significant time, are a concern for the Attorney General’s office,
Sunday stated.
Fraternity Involvement Allegations
Reports indicate that pledges at Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternities were allegedly tasked with cutting and packaging cocaine as part of their initiation. The attorney general pointed to peer pressure as a significant factor in these activities. Young individuals are heavily influenced by peer pressure, which played a powerful role here,
Sunday acknowledged.
Penn State’s Response
In response to the allegations, Penn State expressed shock and placed Delta Upsilon under interim suspension. The university does not recognize Sigma Chi officially as it operates independently of university oversight. The current situation parallels a severe fraternity-related case in 2017 when a student died due to a hazing incident involving excessive alcohol consumption at Beta Theta Pi fraternity.
My hope is that Penn State will act appropriately in these circumstances,
Sunday commented, noting that the university has been open to collaboration thus far. He hopes for joint efforts to address and mitigate these issues.
Fox News Digital has sought comments from Penn State representatives. Writer Nora Moriarty contributed to the report for Fox News Digital.