Nineteen individuals are facing federal charges for their alleged involvement in a drug operation that operated openly in Washington Square Park in Manhattan. The group is accused of selling fentanyl, heroin, and crack cocaine, which resulted in the deaths of two individuals in the past year. One victim was an 18-year-old from Colorado who had just graduated high school, while the other was a 43-year-old homeless individual who resided in the park.
According to court documents, the defendants are aware of the dangers of the drugs they sell and have caused numerous overdoses in and around Washington Square Park. Despite being arrested multiple times for drug-related offenses in the past five years, the accused individuals reportedly resume their drug-selling activities after being released from custody.
The drug operation is said to be primarily run by members of the Bloods gang, with John Livigni identified as one of the masterminds behind the network. The groups involved in the operation had an agreement not to sell in each other’s territories and used different colored bags to distinguish their products.
One of the victims, the 18-year-old from Colorado, requested drugs from a trusted source upon arriving in New York City for a summer internship. Tragically, he was found dead the next day from a drug overdose. Similarly, the homeless victim was discovered deceased outside an apartment building in Greenwich Village, with bags from the Livigni Team and the Bloods gang found near the body.
The individuals involved in the Washington Square Park drug network have been charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics resulting in death. The defendants include Maliek Lugg, John Livigni, Curtis Miller, Tommy Brown, Christian Cortez, Jared Covington, Nazzir Washington, Vito Haskins, Felix Cuevas, Manny Pina, Andre Bethea, Sean Thom, Bishara Strother, Robert Johnson, Henry Rodriguez, Peter Rodriguez, Daniel Negron, Brandi Felci, and Blake Tannenbaum.
The operation has brought chaos and tragedy to the once-peaceful park, with an influx of drug dealers and addicts contributing to a dangerous environment. Law enforcement officials are working to dismantle the network and hold those responsible for the drug-related deaths and overdoses accountable for their actions.
