A 24-year-old former Penn State student, Agostino Abbatiello, appeared in court in a red prison jumpsuit and handcuffs as prosecutors laid out details of an alleged cocaine ring linked to two university fraternities. Abbatiello is accused of being the top supplier in a network that authorities say operated from around 2023 to 2024, with drugs allegedly distributed through parties and pledge activities at Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon, including hazing rituals involving cocaine.

Abbatiello, who turned himself in and has been held since his 18 August arrest, is one of 14 people charged over the operation. At Wednesday's preliminary hearings in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, co-defendants including Thomas Robinson, his father Paul Robinson, Muhammad Huraibi and Lars Zeepvat testified or appeared, describing deals such as a $4,000 purchase of 100g of cocaine in August 2023 and a $10,000 cash purchase of 250g in November 2023, paid via cash, Venmo and Snapchat-arranged transactions. Witnesses also said fraternity pledges were recruited to help package the drugs for resale.