Penn State Cocaine Ring Busted, Disney Sues Trump's FCC, Clancy Trial Day 15: AM Update 8/19

**SPEAKER_1** (0:01)
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**Mark Halperin** (0:32)
Good morning, everyone. I'm Mark Halpern, host of Next Up with Mark Halpern. Filling in today for Megyn Kelly, it's Wednesday, August 19th, 2026 and this is your AM Update.

**Dave Sunday** (0:42)
Large amounts of cocaine kilos were brought from Philadelphia and New York, where they were cut and packaged for sale primarily to Penn State students.

**Mark Halperin** (0:52)
Fourteen people charged in the alleged cocaine trafficking ring, tied to two Penn State fraternities. Disney taking the Trump administration to court, accusing the FCC of illegally targeting ABC over its programming. The defense continuing to build its case, that Lindsay Clancy was severely mentally ill at the time of her children's death, has prosecutors challenge, which she reported to doctors before the killings.

**Noah Goldberg** (1:17)
I'd still love to know who your pollster is. And that's when they told me it was a social experiment.

**Mark Halperin** (1:21)
And a mysterious company admitting its polling numbers were completely made up as questions swirl over what the fake operation was really trying to do. All that and more coming up on your AM Update.

**Megyn Kelly** (1:37)
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**Mark Halperin** (2:29)
Fourteen people now facing charges in Pennsylvania accused of taking part in a sprawling cocaine trafficking operation allegedly run through two Penn State fraternities. Thirteen of the defendants were Penn State students at or around the time of the alleged crimes in 2023 and 2024
The fourteenth is the father of one of the accused students, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, detailing what investigators say they uncovered.

**Dave Sunday** (2:56)
What we learned during this investigation was that between 2023 and 2024, large amounts of cocaine kilos were brought from Philadelphia and New York to State College, where they were cut and packaged for sale primarily to Penn State students.
The two main dealers were senior members of the Delta, Upsilon, and Sigma Chi fraternities. Agostino Abbottiello was at the very top of the chain. Thomas Robinson was a rung below that on the ladder. The evidence showed that cocaine was primarily packaged at the fraternity houses, and that packaging was done by fraternity brothers and oftentimes pledges. In fact, we found a pattern of events that showed cutting and bagging cocaine was for some pledges and indoctrination into the Delta, Upsilon, and Sigma Chi fraternities.

**Mark Halperin** (3:54)
At least four of the defendants are still Penn State students. AG Sunday also describing the alleged sales as largely taking place within the students' social circles between friends, fraternity brothers, and acquaintances, including at fraternity houses and social events. Asked whether the alleged use of pledges could eventually result in hazing charges, Sunday declining to answer citing an ongoing investigation.
The defendants now facing charges ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies. AG Sunday announcing the breakdown.

**Dave Sunday** (4:26)
Agostino Abbottiello, Thomas Robinson, and two others, Mohamed Harabi and Lars Zipfatt, are charged with felony corrupt organizations because this was a coordinated and organized cocaine trafficking operation with regular trips to those source cities and large amounts of cocaine being brought back to these fraternities.
They are also charged with conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, and related offenses. A fifth person, Robert Zinola, is charged with felony conspiracy and criminal use of communication facility and related misdemeanors. These are the five primary dealers. The eight other student age defendants in this case have been charged with misdemeanor counts of drug possession and paraphernalia. The only non-student charge is Thomas Robinson's father, Paul Robinson, who we allege took steps to conceal evidence, including a safe-containing drugs and cash, and obstruct this investigation.