Investigators on Thursday morning raided two homes, seizing numerous illegal drugs, and arrested two college students as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into a fraternity at California State University San Marcos.
Investigators with Cal State’s police department have been investigating the fraternity Tau Kappa Epsilon since August after receiving several reports of sexual assaults involving frat members starting in May.
CSUSM officials also started looking into whether frat members were involved in hazing, intimidation, vandalism and providing illegal drugs and alcohol to minors, according to a news release from the university.
Investigators at about 8 a.m. executed search warrants at a home in Oceanside and a second home in San Marcos; they uncovered and seized a “substantial” amount of marijuana, cocaine, LSD, Ecstasy, illegal prescription drugs, steroids and nearly $1,000 in cash, the news release said.
Two Cal State students, 21-year-old Brandon Polonia and 24-year-old Corey Hobbs were arrested and booked in the Vista Detention Facility.
CSUSM officials say the investigation is ongoing.
According to the university, TKE – also known as “The Kollege Experience” – is not a recognized student organization at CSUSM. Most of its members are current CSUSM students.
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University officials said TKE lost its recognition as a student organization in 2005 due to underage alcohol use and “failure of the organization to maintain academic standing required of recognized fraternities and sororities.”
On the fraternity’s website, the TKE claims it holds its “members to a higher standard, based on personal worth and character, rather than wealth, rank, or honor.”
“Although no longer officially recognized by our university, we set the bar for academics and involvement, as our chapter holds one of the highest average GPA’s at Cal State,” the TKE website states. “We still believe in a ‘well-balanced diet’ which includes a healthy amount of college social interaction. Dubbed ‘The Kollege Experience’ our chapter continues to host some of the most reputable nightlife experiences San Marcos and the surrounding community has seen.”
Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to call university police at 760-750-4567 or the school’s SAFE hotline at 760-750-SAFE.
