The man accused of leading a Penn State cocaine operation appeared subdued as he was brought into court in handcuffs, wearing a prison jumpsuit.
Agostino Abbatiello, 24, has remained in custody since his August 18 arrest after prosecutors said he turned himself in.
He is among 14 people charged last month over their alleged involvement in the illegal drug operation.
Paul Robinson, the father of one of the former students, is also facing charges. At his preliminary hearing, held after Abbatiello’s on Wednesday morning, a judge ruled that the charges against him could proceed.
Robinson’s son, Thomas Robinson, along with Muhammad Huraibi and Robert Zanolla, waived their preliminary hearings. All three were in the courtroom and gave testimony during Abbatiello’s hearing.
Lars Zeepvat, another defendant in the case, had already waived his preliminary hearing before Wednesday. He also testified during Abbatiello’s proceeding.
Authorities say all of the defendants are connected to an alleged drug ring that operated from about 2023 through 2024.
The attorney general said Abbatiello “was at the very top of the chain,” after investigators alleged that Sigma Chi — the fraternity he belonged to — and Delta Upsilon hosted parties involving drugs and hazing pledges with cocaine.
Agostino Abbatiello, the alleged ringleader of the Penn State cocaine ring, entered court on Wednesday morning looking glum
The 24-year-old Penn State graduate donned a red jumpsuit, sneakers, and his glasses as he was escorted into court. His handcuffed wrists were placed in front of him
The Penn State graduate – who prosecutors said received more than $123,500 in payments – donned a red jumpsuit, sneakers, and his glasses as he was escorted into court. His wrists were handcuffed and placed in front of him.
Huraibi and the elder Robinson were also spotted entering the courthouse, both dressed in suits.
The younger Robinson, the alleged co-ringleader, was brought in to speak during Abbatiello’s hearing.
He told the court that he initially sold small amounts of cocaine and split those profits with Huraibi. Robinson also identified Abbatiello as their supplier.
Robinson further detailed that he and Huraibi got approximately $4,000 together to purchase 100g of cocaine from Abbatiello in August 2023 via Snapchat, the court heard.
They paid Abbatiello through multiple currencies, including cash and Venmo transactions. Robinson added that the ‘money used for purchase came from profits from selling of cocaine.’
Huraibi then took the stand and told the court that he used cocaine twice before selling it with the younger Robinson.
He pledged Delta Upsilon at the university in Spring 2023 and said he was introduced to Abbatiello through a friend.
Huraibi also confessed that pledges were recruited to help package cocaine for resale.
Paul Robinson, the father of Thomas Robinson, also attended court. He is one of 14 people charged in the cocaine operation
Muhammad Huraibi (left), who has also been charged, testified during Abbatiello’s hearing on Wednesday and is set to have his own
In November 2023, he and Robinson purchased around 250g of cocaine for around $10,000 in cash.
He recalled the drugs being stored in a Ziploc bag at Abbatiello’s apartment, and that he handed him the money once he was given the cocaine, Huraibi told the court.
When questioned by the defense about his use of cocaine, Huraibi admitted that he started to use the drug, and others, after he started selling it.
Zeepvat also took the stand during the hearing. He said he is friends with Zanolla, and that is how he came to know Abbatiello, who is often referred to as ‘Augy’ by the witnesses.
The former student, who pledged the Sigma Chi fraternity in Spring 2021, said that they would purchase cocaine in Philadelphia and bring it back to the college.
‘It started with personal amounts of money,’ referring to how the drugs were paid for. ‘For sophomore year it was mainly personal. [The] beginning of junior year is when it started to ramp up.’
But Zeepvat said his ‘distributor stopped answering’ and they had to pivot to a new supplier.
‘After it was not working with people locally, Augy said he had people in Long Island. It was around this time in the middle of my junior year where Augy said from what I remember, “Lars I know you’re low on money. I have made some profits on the gambling side. I have a dealer in LI where we can get it cheaper for better quantities”,’ Zeepvat recalled on the stand.
Thomas Robinson, who has been described by prosecutors as ‘a rung below’ Abbatiello, was arrested in December 2024 after allegedly selling cocaine to confidential informants six times in the span of months
Officials found that Sigma Chi, a fraternity Abbatiello was in, and Delta Upsilon (pictured) allegedly hosted parties that involved drugs and hazing pledges with cocaine
Abbatiello is from Westbury, New York – a nice suburban neighborhood on Long Island.
Thomas and Paul Robinson are from Churchill, Pennsylvania. The elder Robinson, 59, is a prominent attorney at a law firm in Pittsburgh.
He has been charged with helping conceal evidence related to the operation after allegedly hiding a safe full of drugs and cash that was tied to his son’s alleged illegal activity.
The younger Robinson has been described by prosecutors as ‘a rung below’ Abbatiello. He was arrested in December 2024 after allegedly selling cocaine to confidential informants six times in the span of months.
After his arrest, he had his admission to the New England School of Law withdrawn.
Abbatiello posted bail on Wednesday afternoon after his parents fronted the $250,000 secured bail granted by a judge during his earlier hearing.
The judge granted the bail only if Abbatiello abides by specific rules, including turning in his passport to law enforcement, staying sober from alcohol or any other controlled substances, living with his parents, and being transported to his future proceedings by them. He is also not allowed to have any contact with witnesses.
He will be released from jail on these conditions in about two hours.
