Leader of drug trafficking organization sentenced in Whatcom County court
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- Everett-based drug ring leader sentenced to 40 months in Whatcom County court.
- Task force seized over 70 pounds of drugs after months-long investigation.
- Plea deal cited drug volume, no prior record; co-defendant's trial set for November.
The leader of an Everett-based drug trafficking organization was sentenced to 40 months in prison in Whatcom County Superior Court on Tuesday.
Mikel Leandro Escandon Tibillin, 38, was arrested in August 2024 with four others following a months-long Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force (WGDTF) investigation that led to the seizure of more than 70 pounds of narcotics, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
Escandon Tibillin pleaded guilty to amended charges of two counts of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance and two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver. He was initially charged with 11 felonies.
Prior to his arrest, Escandon Tibillin organized a “complex network” involving multiple Everett apartments, drug couriers and a “fleet” of vehicles to distribute drugs in Whatcom County and launder the proceeds, according to court records.
The WGDTF began “extensive surveillance” of Escandon Tibillin’s Everett residence and vehicles following the arrest of a Bellingham man who purchased fentanyl-laced powder that Escandon Tibillin supplied.
Austin Grimme, 35, was arrested in May 2024 on charges related to the manufacturing of firearms using a 3D printer. Grimme was seen meeting with people linked to Escandon Tibillin while investigators were monitoring him.
The people Grimme met with drove cars registered to Escandon Tibillin up to Whatcom County to complete drug deals as directed by Escandon Tibillin, according to court records. A confidential informant described a “dispatcher-style” organization in which people would contact a number later determined to be Escandon Tibillin’s — to coordinate a purchase, and then a courier would meet with them to fill the order.
The confidential informant used funds from investigators to buy methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl-laced powder during two controlled purchases in Bellingham. One of the suppliers at the deal was 24-year-old Washington Ruiz Bomboza, who lived at an apartment in the same complex as Escandon Tibillin in Everett.
Ruiz Bomboza and Escandon Tibillin were found meeting with each other in a Bellingham parking lot on Aug. 6, 2024. Investigators searched the car driven by Escandon Tibillin and found 138 grams of suspected fentanyl-laced powder, 96 grams of methamphetamine, 61 grams of suspected cocaine and 10 grams of heroin, according to court documents. Officials believed that the drugs were going to be shared with Ruiz Bomboza for him to distribute at Escandon Tibillin’s direction.
Both Escandon Tibillin and Ruiz Bomboza were taken into custody. Ruiz Bomboza admitted to investigators that he distributed drugs and transferred the proceeds to Ecuador on behalf of Escandon Tibillin. Escandon Tibillin said he sold “small quantities of drugs” in Bellingham, but said he was alone in his drug dealing business.
Investigators searched Escandon Tibillin and Ruiz Bomboza’s Everett apartments and found 24 pounds of suspected cocaine or fentanyl-laced powder, 32 pounds of suspected fentanyl-laced pills, 12 pounds of suspected methamphetamine, 3 pounds of suspected heroin and over $60,000 in suspected drug proceeds.
Guilty plea, sentencing
Escandon Tibillin pleaded guilty to four drug-related felony charges on Tuesday as part of a plea agreement.
The state said the agreement took several months to reach, and pointed out both the “sheer quantity” of drugs found in Escandon Tibillin’s possession and his lack of a criminal history.
His attorney, Adrian Madrone, said Escandon Tibillin’s time in custody so far has been “extremely challenging” for him and his family. He said Escandon Tibillin has been a “model pretrial detainee,” and pointed out the comparatively shorter sentences that other individuals involved in the drug trafficking organization received.
Escandon Tibillin apologized to the court before his sentence was imposed.
Judge Jennifer Slattery followed the agreed-upon recommendation of 40 months in prison followed by a year in community custody. She thanked Escandon Tibillin for taking responsibility, though she also pointed out the deaths and “ruined lives” caused by drugs like fentanyl.
She said she didn’t know why Escandon Tibillin committed the crimes, but said it was probably to support his family. Escandon Tibillin nodded at this.
With credit for time served and good behavior in jail, Escandon Tibillin will likely spend about a year in Department of Corrections custody.
Grimme’s case was dismissed in November 2024 as part of a plea deal in a separate case.
Ruiz Bomboza remains in custody at the Whatcom County Jail. His trial is scheduled for Nov. 17.