The men charged in connection with the case appeared in federal court on Thursday. Federal prosecutors are asking for them all to be held in jail until their trial.
HOUSTON — New details have been revealed in an alleged murder-for-hire plot that ended with a man surviving after being shot several times on the Grand Parkway earlier this year.
The 40-year-old victim was attacked on Feb. 4 while driving a company vehicle on the Grand Parkway near Highway 290.
Three men who are charged in connection with the case appeared in federal court on Thursday.
Ricardo Obando Jr., 51, and his stepson, 24-year-old Matthew Rosas, both from Houston, as well as 42-year-old Michael Seery, of Katy, 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.
Seery is also facing a felon in possession of a firearm charge, which carries a 15-year maximum sentence.
In federal court, Seery pleaded not guilty.
According to court records, Obando and Rosas surveilled the victim “more than one time” before the shooting. They said Rosas later confessed. According to investigators, Rosas told them that Obando was hired to kill the victim while he was paid $300 to drive the getaway car.
Prosecutors have previously said Obando has a prior conviction for possession of a prohibited weapon and a criminal history that includes forgery, assault, terroristic threats, and federal charges for drug distribution and firearm possession.
Federal prosecutors are asking for them all to be held in jail until their trial.