PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh-area attorney has been charged with allegedly helping conceal evidence connected to a suspected cocaine trafficking operation involving two Penn State University fraternities, authorities said.
Paul R. Robinson, 59, of Churchill, is the only person charged in the investigation who was not a Penn State student at the time of the alleged drug operation.
Robinson, a managing attorney with the Pittsburgh law firm Meyer, Darragh, Buckler, Bebenek & Eck, PLLC, addressed the allegations in a Facebook post Tuesday, thanking friends and supporters who had stood by him and his family.
“I just wanted to say thank you so much,” Robinson wrote, adding that he had “tried to do what was lawful.”
However, investigators allege that Robinson took steps to conceal evidence connected to an ongoing cocaine investigation.
Attorney accused of concealing drug evidence
According to a criminal complaint, investigators allege that between Dec. 13 and Dec. 21, 2024, Robinson helped conceal a safe that contained evidence related to a cocaine distribution investigation.
Authorities say the safe contained drugs and cash.
Robinson is facing felony charges related to tampering with evidence, hindering apprehension and obstructing the investigation.
The allegations are connected to a much larger investigation into suspected cocaine trafficking involving members and associates of Penn State's Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternities.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said investigators found evidence that cocaine was packaged at fraternity houses located off campus.
At a news conference, Sunday said fraternity members and pledges were allegedly involved in cutting and bagging cocaine and described the activity as, in some cases, part of an initiation process.
Authorities filed charges against 14 suspects Monday. Thirteen of those defendants were Penn State students during 2023 and 2024.
Robinson's son also charged
Paul Robinson is the father of Thomas Michael Robinson, 23, of Churchill, who investigators have identified as a suspected leader of the cocaine operation.
Thomas Robinson, a 2021 Central Catholic graduate, has also been charged in connection with the investigation. Both father and son have posted bail, according to court documents.
Investigators say Thomas Robinson cooperated with authorities following an earlier arrest and identified Agostino Abbatiello as his alleged cocaine supplier.
Abbatiello, 24, of Westbury, New York, surrendered to authorities Tuesday. He is facing 11 felony counts and was denied bail, according to investigators.
Authorities have described Abbatiello as a major cocaine distributor at Penn State.
Previous drug arrest
Thomas Robinson was previously arrested in December 2024 on charges including drug manufacturing and delivery, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal use of a communication facility.
Authorities said that earlier case is also connected to the investigation involving the fraternities.
In his Facebook statement, Paul Robinson questioned why his son's earlier case had resurfaced.
“I don’t understand why my son who has done everything possible to move on and upward from this terrible mistake almost two years ago now had this re-raised,” he wrote.
Robinson also said he had attempted to do what was “right and lawful.”
Law firm responds
Meyer, Darragh, Buckler, Bebenek & Eck, PLLC confirmed that it is aware of the criminal charges against Robinson.
The firm said the allegations concern Robinson personally and do not involve the firm, its clients or the legal services it provides.
The firm also emphasized that Robinson is entitled to the presumption of innocence and that the allegations must be resolved through the judicial process.
Because the case remains ongoing, the firm said it does not intend to comment further on the substance of the allegations.
Investigation continues
The charges against Paul Robinson add another layer to a sprawling investigation that has already resulted in charges against numerous current and former Penn State students and alleged drug distributors.
Authorities continue to investigate the suspected cocaine network, including how drugs were obtained, packaged and distributed among students and others connected to the university community.
Robinson has not been convicted of the charges against him. The allegations remain subject to the criminal court process, where prosecutors will have to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
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