Alleged PSU cocaine ring leader seeks bail
Abbatiello faces charges in PSU cocaine trafficking case
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The defense attorney for the alleged head of the Penn State fraternity drug ring filed motions Tuesday asking a Centre County judge to grant bail in the case.
Agostino Sebastiano Abbatiello, 24, of Westbury, New York, has been held at the Centre County Prison with bail denied since turning himself in Aug. 18. Abbatiello was one of 14 people arrested for their alleged involvement in the cocaine-trafficking ring and faces felony charges of corrupt organizations, conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity and related offenses.
Court documents allege that Abbatiello, a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, supplied cocaine to other fraternity members and students between January 2023 and November 2024. Witnesses who testified during the grand jury investigation said Abbatiello was Penn State's main cocaine dealer and had distributed the drug as recently as February 2026.
In the motion filed Tuesday, defense attorney Philip M. Masorti requested Abbatiello be released at his own recognizance, which would allow him to leave prison based on a signed promise to return for any court dates.
Masorti wrote in the motion that Abbatiello "is being unlawfully held" in "direct violation of his constitutional rights" as he was not granted the presumption of innocence by the judge who set his bail. He further argued that Abbatiello has no prior criminal record, previously appeared before a grand jury after receiving a subpoena, will live with his parents pending the resolution of his case and voluntarily traveled from Florida to turn himself in to authorities.
Abbatiello's preliminary hearing is scheduled for today, but Masorti requested it be continued until after Oct. 14, if bail is granted.