From ABC7 New York · · 1m 20s
Penn State Frat Pledges Under 'Steady Hand Test'
Penn State fraternity pledges underwent 'steady hand test' to cut cocaine before being charged in drug ring.
In brief
Penn State fraternity pledges underwent 'steady hand test' to cut cocaine before being charged in drug ring. Penn State fraternity pledges were tested for steady hands to cut cocaine before being charged in a drug trafficking ring. Originally reported by ABC7 New York.
New court documents reveal
Newly released court documents show a drug trafficking ring at Penn State University distributed kilos of cocaine across campus.
“Newly released court documents are shedding light on the sprawling drug trafficking ring that authorities say distributed kilos of cocaine across the campus of Penn State University”
Thomas Robinson recruited pledges
Thomas Robinson used his role as pledge educator to recruit pledges for cocaine cutting and packaging.
“Thomas Robinson - who is cooperating with authorities - tried to identify "trustworthy" pledges and used a so-called "steady hand test" to determine if they could cut the cocaine”
Steady hand test process
Robinson directed pledges to hold hands; steady hands allowed them to assist with cocaine cutting.
“Robinson directed all three pledges to hold out their hands. If their hands were steady, they were allowed to continue to assist Robinson, although they did not know the task they were being asked to do”
Pledges signed non-disclosure
Pledges signed non-disclosure forms before being taken to boiler room for cocaine cutting.
“Robinson told authorities that he had the pledges sign non-disclosure forms before taking them to the fraternity's boiler room, where a folding table was set up with equipment like goggles, glass dishes, and dime bags”
Cocaine cutting process
One pledge shredded cocaine while Robinson added creatine; other two weighed bags of cocaine.
“Robinson then placed a brick-like amount of cocaine on the folding table. One of the pledges shredded the cocaine while Robinson added creatine to the cocaine. The other two pledges put the cocaine into the half-gram bags and weighed the bags”
Operation grew too large
Fraternity members warned Robinson his operation was getting too big and risking arrests.
“People from the fraternity were telling Robinson that his operation was getting too big and he was exposing himself and people around him to being arrested. Robinson ignored the cautions and continued to deal drugs and expand his customer base by selling to non-fraternity members”
Code of silence enforced
Fraternity code of silence prevented pledges from revealing drug operation to police.
“The code of silence that already existed in the fraternity extended to the drug trade, ensuring that the pledges would not reveal the operation to law enforcement or school administration”
Robinson arrested
Robinson was arrested after fraternity members warned his operation was too large.
“When Robinson was arrested, authorities said the president of the DU fraternity held a virtual meeting to notify the brothers and told them to "not talk to police"”
Safe buried in woods
Robinson's brother buried safe full of drugs and cash near Penn State campus.
“After Robinson was arrested, Matson and O'Neil "decided it would be best to take the safe into the woods to hide it" near Penn State”
What it means
Penn State fraternity pledges were tested for steady hands to cut cocaine before being charged in a drug trafficking ring.
