The U.S. Attorney’s Office accused the three of plotting for months to kill their victim.
HOUSTON — Three Houston-area men are facing charges in a murder-for-hire plot that led to a shooting on the Grand Parkway earlier this year, authorities said.
Editor’s note: The above video is from KHOU 11’s coverage of the shooting in February.
Two of the accused are 51-year-old Ricardo Obando Jr. and his 24-year-old stepson, Matthew Rosas, both of Houston. The third is 42-year-old Michael Seery, of Katy.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office accused the three of plotting for months to kill their victim.
On the morning of Feb. 4, the 40-year-old victim was driving a company car on the Grand Parkway in northwest Harris County when the attack happened. The victim was shot several times, but survived with multiple injuries, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
In February, Rosas told investigators with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office that he was paid $300 to drive the getaway car and his stepfather was hired to carry out the killing, according to court documents.
All three are charged with possession of a firearm silencer in furtherance of violence or discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. They are also charged with conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder for hire and use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder for hire resulting in personal injury, which carries up to a 20-year sentence in federal prison.
Additionally, Seery and Obando face a charge of transfer and receipt of a firearm for use in a felony, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Seer is also facing a felon in possession of a firearm charge, which carries a 15-year maximum sentence.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, and Texas Department of Public Safety with help from the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
The three are set to go before a magistrate on Thursday, July 24.