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Pittsburgh attorney Paul Robinson has broken his silence over accusations he helped his son cover up evidence from an alleged sprawling Penn State cocaine empire - admitting: 'I have not lived a perfect life.'
The 59-year-old lawyer is accused of trying to conceal evidence connected to his son Thomas Robinson, 24, who prosecutors say became one of the senior players in a highly lucrative drug operation.
asserted
prosecutors → see → operation
The drug ring allegedly infiltrated two fraternities and even used pledges to package cocaine.
uncertain
ring → infiltrate → cocaine
But the elder Robinson is now hitting back, insisting the allegations against him are untrue and portraying himself as a father whose overriding concern has been helping his son rebuild his life after what he called a devastating college 'mistake.'
'I have not lived a perfect life by any means, but the claims and reports about me are not true,' Robinson said in a statement released through his attorney, Michael DeRiso.
uncertain
Robinson → hit → attorney
'I respect the law more than anyone as those that know me I think would say.
asserted
I → respect → me
Robinson, the managing attorney at Pittsburgh law firm Meyer, Darragh, Buckler, Bebenek, and Eck, has been charged with felony tampering and hindering apprehension.
asserted
Robinson → manage → apprehension
Prosecutors allege he helped conceal evidence by hiding a safe containing drugs and cash linked to his son's alleged activities.
asserted
he → allege → activities
Prominent Pittsburgh attorney, Paul Robinson, 59, has been charged with felony tampering and hindering apprehension for allegedly trying to conceal evidence connected to his son's drug operation
Thomas Robinson, 24, is accused of being a senior figure in the alleged cocaine operation and allegedly used his position in Delta Upsilon to recruit pledges to help package drugs for resale
More than a dozen Penn State students in two off-campus fraternities face drug-related charges after members allegedly cut and packaged cocaine and distributed it to others
Thirteen other defendants, all current or former Penn State students, have been charged in the wider case.
uncertain
defendants → charge → case
Robinson insists there is another side to the story.
asserted
Robinson → insist → story
'I tried to do everything right after my son was arrested 2 years ago, and I look forward to telling what actually happened when we have that opportunity,' he said.
asserted
he → try → opportunity
'My only concern is that my family continue to have the strength and support to get through this.'
asserted
family → continue → this
The case centers on an alleged cocaine trafficking network authorities say operated around Penn State in 2023 and 2024 and involved members of the Delta Upsilon and Sigma Chi fraternities.
asserted
authorities → center → fraternities
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday previously described the operation as a 'coordinated and highly profitable drug-trafficking crew.
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Sunday → describe → crew
'
Paul Robinson's newly released statement focuses heavily on what happened to his son after his original arrest and argues that Thomas's cooperation with investigators ultimately came back to haunt him.
asserted
cooperation → release → him
Robinson said his son 'obviously made one of the worst decisions while in college 2 years ago, and he knows that more than anyone.'
asserted
he → say → anyone
Robinson, pictured earlier this month, has broken his silence on the charges admitting he has 'not lived a perfect life' but insisting the allegations against him are untrue
Delta
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allegations → picture → him
Upsilon's executive director, Justin Kirk, said those accused in the investigation 'have either been expelled, suspended or resigned'
asserted
those → say → investigation
Robinson has portrayed himself as a father trying to help his family through the fallout from what he described as his son’s terrible college mistake
He said Thomas spent the following two years 'digging out of the hole he put himself in,' including finishing his degree, receiving counseling and starting his own business.
asserted
he → portray → business
'After these past 2 years of doing everything right and fully admitting what he did to try to move forward, Tom was re-charged with the same crimes which already had been filed against him, and with even additional crimes from what Tom was honest in telling them he did,' Robinson said.
'
asserted
Robinson → do → them
His honesty was used against him, and it put him into a now deeper hole, but he still continues to do everything he can to show that his terrible mistake in college is not who he is.'
asserted
he → use → college
Thomas had also been admitted to New England Law Boston before his admission was withdrawn following his arrest.
asserted
admission → admit → arrest
DeRiso previously acknowledged the allegation that his client collected a safe from Penn State but questioned prosecutors' interpretation of what happened.
asserted
what → acknowledge → interpretation
'The allegations are that... Paul picked up a safe or something like that from Penn State, and the government is alleging he did that to destroy or tamper with evidence,' DeRiso said in August.
'
asserted
DeRiso → pick → August
I don't know if there was a safe.'
asserted
I → know → ?
The attorney said Robinson had received a call from his son after trouble erupted and argued that the public should wait for the evidence to emerge.
asserted
evidence → say → son
'Knowing the Paul I know, knowing any father who would attempt to help their family is one thing, but I struggle to see Paul doing something so reckless,' DeRiso said.
'
asserted
DeRiso → know → something
If there is some version of the story that isn't so criminal, that's probably the story that is going to come out at some point as we defend this.
asserted
we → be → this
He described Robinson as a devoted family man despite the demands of his legal career.
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He → describe → career
'The Paul Robinson I know, he's the guy, as busy as he is with all the big cases he handles, he would always find time to be with his family,' DeRiso said.
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DeRiso → know → family
Robinson, pictured leaving court in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, insists he respects the law and says he looks forward to getting the opportunity to explain ‘what actually happened’
asserted
what → picture → opportunity
Robinson, an attorney himself, who now finds himself on the other side of the law, said he ‘tried to do everything right’ after his son was initially arrested two years ago
Abbatiello, left, and Thomas Robinson, right, stand accused of being the main suppliers for the frats
Both father and son are expected back in court this week for arraignment proceedings.
Prosecutors have identified Agostino Abbatiello, 24, as the alleged ringleader, saying he was 'at the very top of the chain.
asserted
he → find → chain
'
Thomas Robinson has been described by prosecutors as 'a rung below' Abbatiello.
asserted
Robinson → describe → Abbatiello
Authorities allege the operation went far beyond college students casually selling drugs to their friends.
asserted
students → allege → friends
'In fact, according to the evidence uncovered, cutting and packaging cocaine was, for some pledges, an indoctrination into the fraternities,' Sunday previously said.
uncertain
Sunday → accord → fraternities
Thomas Robinson was initially arrested in December 2024 and allegedly told investigators that he had purchased large quantities of cocaine from Abbatiello.
uncertain
he → arrest → Abbatiello
He was accused of using his position within Delta Upsilon to recruit pledges to assist with drug trafficking.
asserted
He → accuse → trafficking
At a hearing earlier this month, Thomas testified that he initially sold smaller amounts of cocaine and split the profits with co-defendant Muhammad Huraibi.
asserted
he → testify → Huraibi
He identified Abbatiello as a supplier and testified that he and Huraibi pooled around $4,000 to buy approximately 100 grams of cocaine from him in August 2023.
asserted
he → identify → August
'The money used for purchase came from profits from selling of cocaine,' Thomas told the court.
asserted
Thomas → use → court
The Delta Upsilon Fraternity House is pictured at Penn State
Agostino Abbatiello, the alleged ringleader of the Penn State cocaine ring, is seen entering court earlier this month
Huraibi testified that the operation grew, with him and Thomas later buying around 250 grams of cocaine for approximately $10,000 in cash.
He also admitted that pledges were recruited to help package cocaine for resale.
Another defendant, Lars Zeepvat, described how the alleged operation escalated during his time at Penn State.
'For sophomore year it was mainly personal,' Zeepvat testified.
asserted
Zeepvat → picture → year
'[The] beginning of junior year is when it started to ramp up.'
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it → start → year
…and 4 more, not listed.
The Aporia
