In a sprawling investigation, over a dozen individuals with links to Penn State have been implicated in what authorities describe as a significant cocaine distribution network. Currently, one of the purported masterminds, 24-year-old Agostino Abbatiello from Westbury, New York, is still eluding capture.

The case unfolded under Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, who revealed charges against Abbatiello and 13 others, citing an extensive operation intertwined with university students and two fraternities located off-campus.

The Attorney General’s office disclosed that among those charged, 13 were Penn State students during the periods in question, spanning across 2023 and 2024. Additionally, a student’s father faces allegations of evidence tampering and obstructing the investigation process.

Attorney General Dave Sunday, on Monday, outlined the suspected activities of Abbatiello and Robinson, noting their alleged repeated travels to Philadelphia and New York to procure “substantial amounts” of cocaine.

Members of the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternities allegedly cut and packaged the coke inside their frat houses off campus and distributed it to Penn State students, investigators said.

The AG said in addition to the charges against alleged ringleaders Abbatiello and Robinson, two more, Mohammed Hurabi and Lars Zeepvat, are charged with felony corrupt organizations, conspiracy, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity and related offenses.

Additionally, Robert Zanolla, is charged with felony conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility and related misdemeanors.

Eight more “student-aged defendants” charged are facing misdemeanors for possession and paraphernalia, the AG said. Those include Liam Smith, Michael Brogno, Kaden Howe, Connor Hurleigh, Seth Beardsley, Kyle Ridpath, Daniel Price and Charles Wiseman.

The AG’s office confirmed at least four of the men charged are current Penn State students.

“This was a coordinated and highly-profitable drug-trafficking crew revolving around two senior members of the fraternities, other fraternity brothers, and pledges,” Attorney General Sunday said. “In fact, according to the evidence uncovered, cutting and packaging cocaine was, for some pledges, an indoctrination into the fraternities.”

Thomas Robinson’s father, Paul Robinson is charged with felony tampering, hindering apprehension for taking steps to conceal evidence and obstructing the investigation.

Penn State University confirmed to News Media that the university has responded to the criminal allegations and announced the Delta Upsilon fraternity would be placed on interim suspension while the school investigates. It also made note that Sigma Chi is “not a recognized organization and operates outside of the University’s support and oversight.”

In a statement, Penn State said in part:

“We are horrified by these serious allegations against current and former students,” said Andrea Dowhower, vice president for Student Affairs. “Criminal activity, including hazing, such as this has no place at our institution, and we will cooperate with law enforcement in any way we can. We will continue to enhance our efforts around health and safety and hazing educational efforts for all our organizations.”

In a statement sent to News Media, Delta Upsilon Executive Director Justin Kirk said, “The charges filed today [Monday] stem from alleged incidents that Delta Upsilon International Fraternity was previously made aware of. The individuals associated with Delta Upsilon have either been expelled, suspended or resigned. We will continue to work closely with the university on any investigative efforts.”

News Media has reached out to Sigma Chi fraternity.

Customs officials at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport made a startling discovery when they found close to 200 lizards crammed into 22 pairs of socks within a traveler’s suitcase, as reports reveal.

The incident involved a 23-year-old Mexican national who had flown into Tokyo from South Korea on August 8. During luggage inspection, customs officers stumbled upon the concealed reptiles, The Times of India reported.

Inside the suitcase, the lizards were methodically packed into socks. Sadly, one of the creatures did not survive the journey and was found dead when authorities opened the bag, according to the news outlet.

Among the smuggled reptiles were nine Mexican alligator lizards, an endangered species with stringent trade restrictions, as noted by The Times of India.

The man reportedly confessed to officials that he had purchased the lizards in Mexico for prices ranging between $3.50 and $4.70 each.

Some of the reptiles can sell for around $630 each in Japan, according to reports.

Keith Jeffries, vice president of K2 Security Screening Group and former federal security director at Los Angeles International Airport, told Fox News Digital that financial incentives can drive unusual smuggling attempts.

“If there’s a market for it, people will attempt to smuggle it,” said Jeffries, who is based in Orlando.

“We’ve seen this before many times,” he added. “It happens more frequently than any of us would like.”

Airport screening procedures can vary depending on the agency involved and the types of prohibited items officers are tasked with finding, Jeffries said.

In the United States, for example, TSA officers are primarily searching for items that could threaten aviation security, such as weapons and explosives, rather than conducting searches specifically for smuggled wildlife or drugs, he said.

“The TSA security directives do not look for items from just a smuggling standpoint,” Jeffries said. “They look for guns, knives, explosives, incendiary devices — and it’s very specific and narrow to that.”

However, wildlife smuggling attempts are not unheard of, Jeffries added.

During his time with TSA, he recalled cases involving exotic turtles, as well as another incident in which nearly 100 exotic birds were discovered inside checked luggage arriving from overseas.

The discovery of the 200 lizards comes weeks after another suitcase containing wildlife products was intercepted at a U.S. airport.

Fox News Digital previously reported that a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agriculture detector dog helped officers find nearly 100 pounds of prohibited meat, plants and wildlife products in luggage arriving from Thailand.

K-9 Maisy alerted officers to the suitcase, which contained 50 pounds of meat, including raw meat, along with 33 pounds of mangoes, garlic, bamboo, banana plants and approximately 16 pounds of Bengal monitor lizard, according to CBP.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service took custody of the monitor lizard.

CBP agriculture specialists inspect international luggage for prohibited items that could bring pests, animal diseases or invasive species into the United States.

In a twist that has sparked widespread conversation, the WNBA has acknowledged a case of overreach by arena security during a game Sunday night. A mother and daughter were wrongly cautioned for wearing t-shirts promoting women’s rights, which security deemed ‘offensive’, leading to threats of ejection. 

Kasey Thomason and her 17-year-old daughter, Annie, both from Georgia, found themselves at the center of controversy at the Gateway Center Arena. As they watched the Indiana Fever clinch a tight 95-91 victory over the Atlanta Dream, the pair were approached by arena staff during overtime.

Seated just three rows from the court, the Thomasons wore shirts from XX-XY Athletics, a brand known for its advocacy in safeguarding women’s sports, for which they had shelled out a substantial $1,000 each for their prime seats.

According to reports, security informed Kasey and Annie that their clothing violated the venue’s regulations. They were given an ultimatum: either conceal their shirts with promotional gear or be ousted from the event.

Standing outside the arena post-game, Thomason expressed disbelief at the situation: ‘We did nothing,’ she asserted. ‘We were just there, no signs, no disruptions, nothing.’

Thomason claimed that another spectator wearing a ‘Protect Trans Rights’ shirt had pointed them out to security after that fan was similarly instructed to zip up a jacket over her shirt.

‘She shouldn’t have to zip up,’ Thomason added, noting that both spectators should have been allowed to wear their clothing without intervention.

Shortly after the mother and daughter duo came forward with their claims, the WNBA made a stunning admission that arena security crossed a line with their actions. 

In a statement provided to OutKick, a WNBA spokesperson said: ‘The WNBA is aware of interactions at last night’s game in Atlanta in which fans were asked by league security to cover their shirts. This should not have happened.’ 

The incident comes amid heightened debate around gender participation policies across the league following recent comments from Fever guard Sophie Cunningham, who voiced support for protecting women’s sports during an ESPN interview.

Cunningham shared what she called her ‘common sense’ opinion with ESPN that she wanted to ‘protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.’

Since then, Cunningham has been at the heart of protests and demonstrations both supporting and criticizing her, including Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton being fined and suspended after confronting and allegedly directing expletives at fans with a sign thanking Cunningham when the teams met and Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve wearing a ‘Trans kids belong’ T-shirt on the sideline in their game.

Recently, Caitlyn Jenner, former men’s Olympic gold medalist and transgender woman, weighed in on the transgender athlete controversy engulfing the WNBA. 

Jenner, who transitioned in 2015, surprisingly backed the pair of ex-NBA players as she hit out at the league over the transgender storm. 

‘XX are in, XY are out. It’s that simple,’ Jenner told Fox News this week. ‘And I think they’re doing a good job just to show the WNBA how…the hypocrisy is going on here. We have to protect women’s sports. I’ve been coming on this show for years and years. I want to protect women’s sports.’ 

Jenner gained fame as a US sporting hero when, then as Bruce Jenner, she won the gold medal in decathlon at the 1976 Montreal Olympics. 

She came out as transgender and transitioned in 2015, yet has since supported calls to ban transgender athletes from women’s sports. 

Cunningham’s stance sparked uproar around the league, drawing both criticism and support alike. Two former NBA stars, Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White, declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft in an apparent protest.

Freedom, who played in the NBA for 11 seasons and stands at 6ft 10in, announced his plans to declare for the WNBA Draft earlier this month amid the ongoing debate surrounding transgender athlete involvement in sports.

The former hoops star, who allegedly sent a provocative letter to WNBA commissioner, has sparked widespread criticism with his divisive decision. 

Meanwhile, since his statement of intent, another former NBA star, White, has followed suit, also declaring for the WNBA Draft.

The 35-year-old, who only played three games in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings, told Fox News Digital that he is now transgender and wants to join the likes of Clark and Cunningham on the court next season.

White later doubled down by posting a picture of himself wearing a wig on social media.