The alleged ringleader of the Penn State drug trafficking ring was selling cocaine for popularity, according to Larz Zeepvat’s testimony during the September 2 preliminary hearings.

Zeepvat graduated from Penn State and joined Sigma Chi in the Spring of 2021, after spending one semester at Penn State Abington, where he met the alleged leader of the drug operation, Agostino Abbatiello.

After multiple joint purchases for personal use, Zeepvat testified that he “saw a difference in [Abbatiello] where he started selling for money and he started selling for popularity.”

Zeepvat also testified that Abbatiello called himself “the Godfather” and openly flaunted the fact that he was making mass amounts of money off drugs. According to the grand jury presentment, Abbatiello was paid more than $123,500 in drug payments.

Zeepvat testified that he and Abbatiello started out by purchasing 3.5-7 ounces of cocaine from a source in Philadelphia, whom Zeepvat knew before Penn State.

After the Philadelphia source ghosted them, however, the two Sigma Chi brothers began using a source from Abbatiello’s hometown and started purchasing larger amounts of cocaine.

Zeepvat said the largest purchase he saw Abbatiello make was for 100 grams of cocaine around the Spring of 2023. Zeepvat, who admitted to having a substance abuse problem during the time of the alleged drug trafficking ring, said it was the most cocaine he had ever seen.

Despite the alleged change in Abbatiello’s motive, Zeepvat continued to help him sell the drugs for profit because at the time he had “very little personal money,” according to his testimony.

Zeepvat recalled a time when Abbatiello paid around $1,500 for Zeepvat’s spring break under the condition that Zeepvat sold bags of cocaine for Abbatiello to pay him back. The grand jury presentment also described this arrangement.

Zeepvat also said he continued working with Abbatiello because he would give him free cocaine for selling smaller bags to other Penn State students for around $60 to $100.

Zeepvat waived his formal arraignment, indicated he intends to plead not guilty, and requested a jury trial, according to a Centre County court filing from August 20. He is facing four felonies and two misdemeanors.

Abbatiello is facing 11 felony charges, including two first-degree and one third-degree. All 11 charges are set to move forward to trial.