From New York Post · · 1m 40s
Inside the 'Yellow Bag Boys' drug empire at Washington Square Park
A federal trial reveals how John Livigni allegedly ran a $40,000-a-month drug operation with shifts, managers, and color-coded products.
In brief
A federal trial reveals how John Livigni allegedly ran a $40,000-a-month drug operation with shifts, managers, and color-coded products. A sophisticated drug operation at Washington Square Park used corporate-style management with shifts, workers, and managers to distribute deadly drugs that killed at least two…
A Wall Street-style drug operation
John Livigni allegedly ran a drug ring near Washington Square Park that pulled in nearly $40,000 monthly. He hired workers for set shifts and double the managers to oversee them.
The 'Yellow Bag Boys' territory
Livigni headed the crew that dealt crack in yellow bags around the park. His operation sold heroin, fentanyl and crack cocaine for at least two decades.
“We sold drugs over there”
Workers made $500 a day
Workers made hand-to-hand drug exchanges six to seven days a week. They earned up to $500 daily for the risky front-line dealing.
Managers earned less but stayed safe
Managers oversaw workers during shifts but made only $800 a week. They were paid less because they stayed safe from the dirty hands of actual deals.
Three shifts, color-coded products
The operation ran morning, evening and overnight shifts with one worker and two managers each. Yellow bags held crack, light-blue envelopes contained heroin and fentanyl.
Fentanyl was the money maker
Heroin and fentanyl brought in $7,000 per week in sales. Crack cocaine in yellow bags generated about $1,800 weekly.
Two deaths, 65 overdoses since 2020
The drugs killed an 18-year-old Broadway intern from Colorado and a 43-year-old homeless person. The operation is tied to at least 65 overdoses in the park since 2020.
The essence
A sophisticated drug operation at Washington Square Park used corporate-style management with shifts, workers, and managers to distribute deadly drugs that killed at least two people.
