Man Accused of Selling Cocaine Out of State College Fraternity House

Police on Friday arrested a Pittsburgh man accused of selling cocaine and other drugs out of his room at a State College fraternity house.

Thomas M. Robinson, 22, is facing 28 felony and misdemeanor counts after an investigation that began in September, when State College police learned from an informant that he had been “selling large amounts of cocaine” from Delta Upsilon fraternity house, 229 Locust Lane, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Between Sept. 27 and Dec. 12, investigators conducted five controlled purchases in which confidential informants arranged through Snapchat messages to buy cocaine from Robinson, police wrote. On each occasion, the informants were under police surveillance when they went to the fraternity house, where Robinson sold them cocaine, according to the affidavit. Police used court-authorized recording devices for four of the buys.

Robinson told one of the informants that the smallest amount he would sell was a half ounce, police wrote.

Police executed a search warrant and arrested Robinson on Friday. An officer used a Taser to subdue Robinson after he resisted being handcuffed and repeatedly said “I’m gonna f— you up,” according to the affidavit. As he was being taken into custody, he told police he thought they were fraternity brothers playing a prank on him.

A search of Robinson’s room found bags of cocaine, marijuana and amphetamine and dextroamphetamine pills, as well as $1,862 in cash, paraphernalia and a handgun, police wrote.

Robinson is charged with 13 felony counts of possession with intent to deliver, five felony counts of criminal use of a communication facility, nine misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

He was arraigned by District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker, who set bail at $150,000. Robinson posted bond on Friday afternoon.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

Robinson is listed as a Penn State World Campus student in the university’s directory.