Police link cocaine trafficking to Penn State fraternities

Pennsylvania state prosecutors charged over a dozen people for an alleged cocaine-trafficking ring. Students linked to two Penn State fraternities were among the people accused of involvement in the ring, according to a Monday statement by prosecutors. Attorney General Dave Sunday characterized the trafficking scheme as coordinated and highly profitable. The cocaine was cut and packaged primarily at the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternity houses and distributed mainly among Penn State students, he explained. Evidence suggested that the cutting and packaging was part of some pledges’ indoctrination activities, he added.

Thirteen current or former university students, plus a student’s father, face felony or misdemeanor charges. At least four of the students are still attending the university. All of those accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

What has Penn State said? The university told WORLD that it placed the Delta Upsilon fraternity on immediate interim suspension while it launched its own investigation into the allegations and the fraternities. The university also noted that Sigma Chi was not an organization recognized by the university, operating outside of the school’s support and oversight. Andrea Dowhower, vice president for Student Affairs at Penn, said that the school was horrified by the serious allegations against current and former students. Such criminal activity had no place at the school, and the university planned to cooperate with law enforcement in any way and to establish additional anti-hazing guidelines for the next rush season, she added.

What are the charges? Five of the 13 current and former students, who included the group’s two main suppliers, received multiple felony charges, including conspiracy and a corrupt organizations charge used in cases of racketeering or organized crime.

The eight other student-aged defendants received misdemeanor counts of possession and paraphernalia. The student’s father also received charges for allegedly tampering with evidence, hindering the investigation, and hiding evidence like drugs and cash.