Two Long Island Men Charged in Penn State Cocaine Trafficking Ring

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday on Monday announced charges against 14 individuals tied to an alleged cocaine-trafficking ring operating out of Penn State University fraternity houses — among them two Long Island men described as central to the operation.

Agostino Abbatiello, 24, of Westbury, was arraigned Tuesday on several felony counts that include possession with intent to deliver cocaine and conspiracy. A judge refused to grant him bail after he failed to show up for his originally scheduled arraignment the previous day, Sunday said. Robert Zanolla of Manhasset faces felony conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility charges, as well as related misdemeanor counts, Sunday said.

According to prosecutors, Abbatiello and co-defendant Thomas Robinson served as the ring's chief suppliers, making regular runs between Philadelphia, New York and Penn State's State College campus to obtain large cocaine quantities. The drug was then cut and repackaged — largely within the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternity houses — and sold predominantly to Penn State students.

All but one of the 14 defendants are current or former Penn State students; the lone exception is the parent of one of those students, Sunday said. The alleged activity occurred during 2023 and 2024.

Investigators employed a variety of methods to trace how the cocaine was obtained, processed and distributed, authorities said, adding that transactions were conducted mostly in cash or via mobile payment apps.

Penn State placed both fraternities on interim suspension while the university's Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response carries out its own review, the school said in a statement.

Prosecutors characterized Abbatiello as sitting at the top of the criminal hierarchy; he had failed to appear when his name was first called at Monday morning's arraignment.