A Westbury man accused of leading a cocaine trafficking operation that supplied Penn State University students surrendered to authorities Tuesday and was ordered held without bail, according to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office.
Agostino Abbatiello, 24, was arraigned Tuesday, Aug. 18, before Magisterial District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker on numerous felony charges, including multiple counts of possession with intent to deliver cocaine and conspiracy.
Abbatiello failed to appear for his scheduled arraignment Monday after charges were announced against him and 13 other defendants. He surrendered Tuesday morning and was denied bail.
A second Long Island resident, Robert Zanolla of Manhasset, is also among those charged in the investigation. Zanolla faces felony conspiracy, criminal use of a communication facility and related misdemeanor charges.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said the alleged cocaine trafficking operation involved primarily Penn State students and members of the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternities.
Thirteen of the 14 defendants were Penn State students at or around the time of the alleged conduct in 2023 and 2024. At least four of those charged are current students, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
Investigators identified Abbatiello and Thomas Robinson as the main suppliers for the organization. Authorities allege the pair regularly traveled to New York and Philadelphia to obtain large quantities of cocaine.
The cocaine was then brought back to the State College area, where authorities said it was cut and packaged primarily at the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternity houses before being distributed mainly to Penn State students.
According to prosecutors, some fraternity pledges were used to cut and package cocaine as part of their introduction into the fraternities.
Sunday described the operation as a coordinated and profitable drug trafficking organization centered around senior fraternity members, other fraternity brothers and pledges.
Abbatiello, Robinson, Mohammed Hurabi and Lars Zeepvat face felony charges that include corrupt organizations, conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity and related offenses.
Zanolla faces felony conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility, along with related misdemeanor charges.
Eight additional defendants, Liam Smith, Michael Brogno, Kaden Howe, Connor Hurleigh, Seth Beardsley, Kyle Ridpath, Daniel Price and Charles Wiseman, face misdemeanor possession and paraphernalia charges.
Paul Robinson, Thomas Robinson’s father, is accused of taking steps to conceal evidence, including a safe containing drugs and cash. He faces felony tampering and hindering apprehension charges in connection with the investigation.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office said the cases will be prosecuted by its Drug Strike Force Section.
Following Abbatiello’s surrender Tuesday, Sunday said the most significant members of the alleged organization had been accounted for and that preliminary hearings would be the next stage of the cases.
All charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Photo: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
