The father of a former Penn State University fraternity member accused of being the second-in-command of a suspected cocaine trafficking ring in State College is speaking publicly about the case for the first time.
Paul Robinson, 59, of Churchill, is a civil attorney and managing partner at a downtown Pittsburgh law firm. He is also a defendant in the alleged cocaine conspiracy involving fraternities at Penn State.
Prosecutors accuse Robinson of hindering the prosecution, tampering with evidence and obstructing the investigation into the alleged cocaine operation involving his oldest son, Thomas Robinson, 23. They say that after Tom, a former member of Delta Upsilon, was arrested for selling thousands of grams of cocaine out of his fraternity house room, his father conspired with one of his son’s fellow fraternity brothers to hide a safe that police say contained cocaine and cash from drug sales.
Paul Robinson denies the charges. He shared the following statement with NewsWorks Lab and TribLive through his defense attorney Mike DeRiso:
“My son, Tom, obviously made one of the worst decisions while in college 2 years ago, and he knows that more than anyone. He spent the past 2 years digging out of the hole he put himself in by completing his college degree, seeing counselors, working hard, and even starting his own business to try to do everything he could to move forward with his young life.
“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. 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.
“My only concern is that my family continue to have the strength and support to get through this. I have not lived a perfect life by any means, but the claims and reports about me are not true. I respect the law more than anyone as those that know me I think would say. 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.
“We appreciate so much the love and support given to us by our family and friends through this difficult time, and we pray this comes to a conclusion soon so my son can continue to productively move on with his so much loved life.”
This story is a collaboration of NewsWorks Lab and TribLive. NewsWorks Lab is a public-benefit company owned by Trib Total Media to produce high-impact, accountability journalism as a free, open-source resource. You may find more information at NewsWorksLab.com.
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