Father and son charged in connection with Penn State fraternity cocaine investigation
A Pittsburgh attorney and his son, a Delta Upsilon student, have been charged with offenses related to an alleged cocaine operation at Penn State, following prior legal issues for both men.
A Pennsylvania attorney, Paul Robinson, 59, and his son, Thomas "T-Rob" Robinson, 23, a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity at Penn State, have been charged with multiple offenses tied to an alleged cocaine distribution network operating out of the fraternity house. The younger Robinson was among a dozen students indicted this week, while the elder faces felony counts of tampering, hindering apprehension, concealing evidence and obstructing the investigation.
Robinson senior, who was previously cited for driving under the influence in May 2024 with a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit, waived his right to a preliminary hearing and the case was later closed, though court documents do not specify the resolution. In December 2024, he was accused of handling a safe that allegedly contained cocaine and cash after cleaning his son’s fraternity room; his attorney, Michael DeRiso, maintains his client was unaware of the contents and did not dispose of any drugs.
Thomas Robinson has a prior record that includes a 2024 guilty plea to vandalism after defacing university property, for which he paid a $480 fine, and earlier drug-dealing allegations referenced in a now-deleted Facebook post by his father. The father’s post expressed belief that his son had moved beyond a past mistake.
Prosecutors allege that the fraternity members used cash-transfer apps and social media to coordinate cocaine sales, and that the investigation was aided by evidence recovered from the safe. The case is ongoing.