After 14 people were charged in an alleged drug-trafficking ring that was run by members of two Penn State fraternities, one of the defendants claimed that he was forced to deliver cocaine after he could not repay $1,500 he had borrowed to fund a spring break trip.
Lars Zeepvat told authorities that Agostino Abbatiello, one of the two alleged leaders, was the largest distributor of cocaine at Penn State University between 2023 to 2024. He then claimed that Abbatiello, 24, would brag about how much money he made from selling drugs, according to a grand jury indictment viewed by People.
Zeepvat, 24, said that he and Abbatiello were close friends and they worked together to distribute drugs.
Amid the investigation, Zeepvat told investigators he used cocaine when he first started to attend Penn State and that he had a dealer in Philadelphia who supplied drugs for him and his other Sigma Chi fraternity brothers.
Zeepvat said his supplier stopped communicating with him, so he and Abbatiello sought out a new source. Abbatiello then allegedly found a supplier in his hometown of Long Island, who provided the fraternity brothers with large amounts of cocaine.
Abbatiello allegedly bought 100 grams of cocaine from the supplier in spring 2023, and Zeepvat claimed there was “a shift in Abbatiello” following the large purchase.
“It was clear to him that Abbatiello was now selling drugs for profit, rather than sourcing it for himself and a few friends,” the grand jury indictment stated.
Following the initial success of getting cocaine for his fraternity, Abbatiello allegedly started to branch out and sell drugs to other fraternities as well as students. (In addition to Sigma Chi, Delta Upsilon was also involved in the alleged scheme.)
Zeepvat and another fraternity brother allegedly made three trips to purchase large amounts of drugs for Abbatiello, and Abbatiello would pay them in cash or discounted cocaine.
Once Zeepvat and the fraternity brother would return with cocaine, Abbatiello assigned other fraternity brothers or roommates to help him cut and package the drugs for distribution.
Zeepvat also told investigators that Abbatiello punished him after he was unable to pay back a loan of $1,500 so he could go on a spring break trip with other fraternity brothers. In exchange for the lack of money, Abbatiello allegedly made Zeepvat deliver cocaine for him.
As Us previously reported, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that Abbatiello and Zeepvat have been hit with several offenses including felony corrupt organizations, conspiracy and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity.
The Attorney General’s Office also confirmed that Abbatiello surrendered on Tuesday, August 18, after he failed to appear in court for an arraignment scheduled on Monday, August 17. He has since been ordered to jail without bail.
It is not currently clear if Abbatiello or Zeepvat have entered pleas following their arrests. Abbatiello’s attorney did not immediately respond to Us’ request for comment, while an attorney for Zeepvat was not immediately available.
