Pittsburgh attorney Paul Robinson charged in Penn State cocaine case

Paul Robinson, a managing attorney at Meyer, Darragh, Buckler, Bebenek, and Eck in Pittsburgh, was charged with felony tampering and hindering apprehension for allegedly concealing evidence in a cocaine trafficking investigation at Penn State University. The indictment ties him to a ring that operated out of the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternity houses, where pledges reportedly cut, packaged, and distributed the drug primarily to other students. Fourteen individuals were charged on Monday, with Robinson the only non-student defendant; prosecutors allege he hid a safe containing drugs and cash.

Robinson is the father of Thomas Robinson, identified by investigators as one of the alleged leaders of the operation. The other alleged leader, Agostino Abbatiello, surrendered to authorities on Tuesday. Thomas Robinson faces multiple felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from a separate case in Centre County and was last enrolled at Penn State in the spring of 2025.

The Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General confirmed the involvement of the two fraternities but did not comment further. Robinson’s law firm, when contacted by KDKA-TV, said the allegations concern the individual attorney and do not involve the firm, its clients, or its legal services. The firm added that it is reviewing the matter and will not comment on the substance of the allegations while the criminal proceeding is ongoing.

KDKA-TV’s attempts to reach Penn State for comment on Thomas Robinson’s student status and to interview Thomas Robinson’s attorney were unsuccessful, and the family declined to comment when reporters visited their home.