Members of Penn State cocaine ring made first appearance in court

CENTRE COUNTY, Pa. (NBC, KYMA) - Six members of the two Penn State fraternities accused of operating a large-scale cocaine trafficking ring are made their first appearance in Centre County court Wednesday.

Among those was the alleged ringleader, 24-year-old Agostino Abbatiello, who has been granted bail.

Abbatiello's bail is set at $250,000 and includes the following conditions: He will have to live with his parents and keep his passport with his attorney.

More than two weeks ago, investigators charged 14 people, most of whom were involved with the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternities, alleging that they were selling cocaine to fellow Penn State students.

Authorities also allege that the operation forced pledges to package the cocaine for distribution.

During Wednesday's bail hearing for Abbatiello, several co-defendants waived their preliminary hearings and instead took the stand to reportedly testify against him.

Those individuals included the alleged second in command, 23-year-old Thomas Michael Robinson, 22-year-old Mohammed Huraibi and 24-year-old Lars Zeepvat, both New Jersey natives.

According to a crew inside the courtroom, a state college police detective also took the stand to discuss the alleged cocaine packaging involving the fraternities' pledges.

Court documents show that Mechanicsburg native Seth Beardsley and New York native Robert Zanolla are also expected to appear, as well as Robinson's father, Paul.