BELLINGHAM, WA – A fentanyl dealer with ties to Whatcom County was sentenced Friday after trying to kill a witness in his case.

44-year-old Michael Scott of Snohomish was previously sentenced to 78 months in prison for dealing fentanyl-laced pills and cocaine, according to the US Department of Justice.

But while he was awaiting his sentencing, Scott continued to set up drug deals.

He was arrested again in January 2020 when he tried to sell fentanyl to an undercover officer in Whatcom County.

When Scott was in custody following that arrest, he agreed to pay an associate to help him find a hitman to kill a witness against him and that witnesse’s colleague.

Scott said he would pay $10,000 for each murder and wanted the deaths to appear as fentanyl overdoses.

He will spend the next 17 years in prison.