Agostino Abbatiello, ex-Penn State student from Westbury and alleged leader of cocaine dealing ring, granted bail

A Westbury-based former Penn State fraternity brother, who prosecutors allege served as the ringleader for a massive cocaine trafficking ring, has been released from jail, records show.

Agostino Abbatiello, 24, who pleaded not guilty last month in Pennsylvania to 11 felony charges, including felony corrupt organizations, conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity and manufacturing or delivering drugs, was granted bail on Wednesday, court documents show.

Centre County President Judge Jonathan Grine granted Abbatiello, who was clad in a red prison jumpsuit, $250,000 bail and ordered him to turn over his passport, remain with his parents on Long Island and have no contact with witnesses in the case, records indicate.

Philip Masorti, Abbatiello's attorney, said that in granting $250,000 bail for his client, the judge had rejected the prosecution's request for $5 million bail.

"From the beginning, we have maintained that holding Agostino without bail was neither necessary nor justified. He is not accused of committing an act of violence. He did not flee," Masorti said in a statement. "When he learned of the charges, he left his job in Florida, traveled to Pennsylvania and surrendered himself to authorities. Today’s decision represents an important correction in how his pretrial detention is being handled."

Unlike most of his co-defendants, Abbatiello was initially denied bail after missing his first arraignment date and had been incarcerated since mid-August.

Abbatiello was one of 14 predominantly Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon fraternity brothers at Penn State who were arrested last month by Pennsylvania authorities for selling cocaine to fellow students. 

At least four defendants are current Penn State students, while another is a father of a student, officials said.

The alleged activity happened at two off-campus fraternity houses, primarily between 2023 and 2024, when Abbatiello graduated, prosecutors said.

Witnesses told a grand jury that Abbatiello continued to run the operation and sold drugs to friends as recently as February, according to court records.

Prosecutors allege Abbatiello, a member of Sigma Chi, and Thomas Robinson, of Delta Upsilon, were the primary suppliers of the operation.

The two would make several large pickups of cocaine in Philadelphia and New York to bring back to both fraternities, where the drugs were cut and packaged for sale, often by other brothers or pledges who took part as indoctrination into the houses, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday.

The cocaine was distributed at frat houses, among friends and at off-campus parties, Sunday said.

One of Abbatiello's former business partners told police last month that Abbatiello found a source for the large amounts of cocaine "in his hometown in New York," according to a criminal complaint.

The business partner told police Abbatiello would buy 100 grams of cocaine in New York every three to six weeks to package at Penn State frat houses, the complaint states.

Abbatiello was seen buying a half-kilogram of cocaine for $20,000, the complaint states. Another witness told police he paid Abbatiello more than $50,000 for cocaine purchases from New York.

"Once a source was obtained in New York, around Spring 2023, Abbatiello made a large purchase, for 100 grams of cocaine," the complaint said. "Once he made this 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."

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.