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HARRISBURG -- Eight defendants charged with misdemeanors in connection with an alleged cocaine trafficking operation involving Penn State University students and two fraternities have waived their preliminary hearings, Attorney General Dave Sunday announced Wednesday.
The eight are among 14 people charged in connection with the alleged distribution of cocaine in State College during 2023 and 2024. Six other defendants face felony charges, and their cases remain pending.
The defendants who waived their preliminary hearings are Liam Smith, Michael Brogno, Kaden Howe, Connor Hurleigh, Seth Beardsley, Kyle Ridpath, Daniel Price and Charles Wiseman. The hearings were waived Wednesday or in the preceding days.
According to investigators and a grand jury presentment, Agostino Abbatiello and Thomas Robinson were the organization’s primary cocaine suppliers, allegedly making regular trips to Philadelphia and New York to obtain large quantities of the drug.
Authorities allege the cocaine was then cut and packaged, primarily at the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternity houses, before being distributed mainly to Penn State students.
The eight defendants who waived their hearings face misdemeanor charges related to drug possession and paraphernalia. Their cases will proceed to formal arraignment in county court.
The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Drug Strike Force Section is prosecuting the cases.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.