Thirteen former or current Penn State University students were criminally charged Monday on allegations they were involved in a cocaine trafficking ring involving two fraternities, authorities said.
According to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office, two of them, who were the main suppliers, made regular trips to Philadelphia and New York to obtain large quantities of cocaine. The cocaine was then packaged primarily at off-campus fraternities Sigma Chi and Delta Upsilon and distributed primarily to Penn State students, the office said.
Part of the operation involved indoctrinating some followers who joined the fraternities by forcing them to cut and bag the cocaine, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said at a news conference Monday.
“This is very serious criminal behavior. There was nothing junior or childlike about this type of behavior,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said at a news conference Monday. “This was a high-level human trafficking organization for this region of Pennsylvania.”
A total of 14 defendants – 13 of whom were Penn State University students at or around the time of the alleged crimes in 2023 and 2024 – were indicted Monday. According to the Attorney General’s Office, at least four of the defendants are current students.
Four defendants are charged with crimes against corrupt organizations, conspiracy and other crimes, while a fifth is charged with conspiracy and other crimes. Eight other student defendants are charged with misdemeanors such as possession. A defendant, the father of a student, is accused of tampering with evidence and obstructing the investigation.
Penn State University said in a news release that the university will temporarily suspend Delta Upsilon while the college investigates the incident.
According to the university, Sigma Chi is not recognized and operates outside the supervision of Penn State.
Justin Kirk, chief executive of Delta Upsilon, said in a statement that the international fraternity was aware of the allegations and that those involved with ties to Delta Upsilon would be expelled or suspended if they did not resign.
“We will continue to work closely with the university on all investigative efforts,” Kirk added.
Sigma Chi’s headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The majority of those accused of crimes were brought to court on Monday morning, it was said at the press conference on Sunday.