Alleged PSU Cocaine Ring Leader Seeks Bail After 14 Arrests
Updated
Updated · Altoona Mirror · Sep 2
Alleged PSU Cocaine Ring Leader Seeks Bail After 14 Arrests
3 articles · Updated · Altoona Mirror · Sep 2
Summary
Tuesday's filing asked a Centre County judge to release Agostino Sebastiano Abbatiello, 24, on his own recognizance after he has been jailed without bail since surrendering on Aug. 18.
Defense lawyer Philip Masorti argued Abbatiello is being unlawfully held because the court denied him the presumption of innocence, and said he has no criminal record, complied with a grand jury subpoena and traveled from Florida to turn himself in.
Court documents identify Abbatiello as one of 14 people charged in the Penn State fraternity cocaine-trafficking case, alleging he supplied cocaine to Sigma Chi members and other students from January 2023 to November 2024.
Grand jury witnesses described him as Penn State's main cocaine dealer and said distribution continued as recently as February 2026; his preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday, though the defense wants it delayed until after Oct. 14 if bail is granted.