CENTRE COUNTY, Pa (WJAC) — Six members of the two Penn State fraternities accused of operating a large-scale cocaine trafficking ring are made their first appearance in Centre County court on Wednesday.
Among those was the alleged ringleader, 24-year-old Agostino Abbatiello, whose attorneys requested that he be granted bail in the case.
More than two weeks ago, investigators charged 14 individuals, most of whom were involved with the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternities, alleging that they were selling cocaine to fellow Penn State students.
Authorities also allege that the operation “forced” pledges to package the cocaine for distribution.
During Wednesday’s bail hearing for Abbatiello, several co-defendants waived their preliminary hearings and instead took the stand to reportedly testify against him.
Those individuals included the alleged ‘second in command’ Thomas Michael Robinson, 22-year-old Mohammed Huraibi and 24-year-old Lars Zeepvat, both New Jersey natives.
According to our crew inside the courtroom, a State College Police detective also took the stand to discuss the alleged cocaine packaging involving the fraternities’ pledges.
Court documents show that Mechanicsburg native Seth Beardsley and New York native Robert Zanolla are also expected to appear, as well as Robinson’s father — Paul Robinson.
Following the testimony, President Judge Jonathan Grine ruled that all of Abbatiello’s charges will be bound over for trial and his bail was set at $250,000.
According to the Attorney General, the six co-defendants who appeared in court also had their charges bound over for trial.
Authorities say Abbatiello later posted bail Wednesday afternoon.