The father of one of the alleged student leaders involved in a cocaine trafficking operation at Penn State is said to have assisted in retrieving his son’s safe, which reportedly contained significant amounts of cash. This testimony from a witness contradicts earlier assertions that the father found it while just cleaning his son’s room.
The safe purportedly belonged to 23-year-old Thomas “T-Robb” Robinson from Pittsburgh, who, along with several others, is accused of managing the drug operation from the Delta Upsilon Fraternity House at the university.
During a recent pre-trial hearing, Thomas’s fraternity brother, Ryan Matson, testified that following Robinson’s arrest in 2024, he moved the safe to a wooded area and covered it with leaves. He later returned with Robinson’s father, well-known Pittsburgh lawyer Paul Robinson, to excavate it. The current location of the safe remains uncertain.
Matson’s account played a crucial role in the proceedings, where the judge concluded sufficient evidence existed to bring Paul Robinson to trial for felony tampering and obstructing law enforcement. Paul’s attorney, Michael DeRiso, previously stated that his client was given the safe while clearing out his son’s fraternity room, positing that Paul was unaware of the contents at the time.
Authorities allege that Thomas Robinson and Agostino Abbatiello, a 24-year-old from Long Island, were principal suppliers in the drug operation, with Abbatiello frequently traveling to major cities like Philadelphia and New York to acquire large quantities of cocaine from dealers between 2023 and 2024.
The alleged ring leaders also include Mohammed Huraibi and Lars Zeepvat, who reportedly incorporated the processing and packaging of cocaine into the hazing rituals for new fraternity pledges.
Matson testified that he took the safe into the woods without knowing what it held, although Thomas had mentioned it was loaded with cash. According to a grand jury account, Thomas claimed there were approximately 100 grams of cocaine and between $5,000 and $10,000 stored in the safe. In total, fourteen individuals have been charged in connection with the drug ring, comprising Paul Robinson, his son, and a group of other students.
In a recent statement, Paul Robinson remarked, “I haven’t led a flawless life, but the allegations against me are inaccurate. I hold a deep respect for the law, as those familiar with me would affirm.” He added, “After my son’s arrest two years ago, I attempted to act properly, and I am eager to share the true story when the time comes.”
