HOUSTON, TX — Two Texas men received life sentences Wednesday for a murder-for-hire plot that went catastrophically wrong when they targeted an innocent man during his morning commute on Highway 99.
U.S. District Judge David Hittner sentenced Michael Seery, 43, of Katy, and Ricardo Obando Jr., 52, of Houston, to life in prison for the botched assassination attempt that left an unidentified victim with gunshot wounds to his neck, torso and hand. The February 4, 2025 attack stemmed from Seery’s jealousy over his wife’s infidelity that had occurred 12 years earlier, federal prosecutors said. Seery hired Obando to kill the man he believed had the affair, but they targeted the wrong person because the intended victim had moved to a different address.
The case highlighted the dangers of 3D-printed weapons after Obando used a homemade gun and silencer during the highway ambush. Federal prosecutors convicted Obando on two murder-for-hire conspiracy counts and three weapons charges, while Seery faced those same charges plus two additional counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. “An innocent victim was ambushed by gunfire during his daily commute—all because of one man’s jealousy and faulty information,” U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei said in a statement. Video from the victim’s dashboard camera captured the terrifying moment shots rang out and his subsequent 911 call, according to Houston NBC affiliate KPRC.
Evidence presented during the trial revealed the extensive planning behind the failed hit. Cellphone records showed Obando conducted surveillance on the victim and made at least one earlier failed attempt on the man’s life, according to Houston ABC affiliate KTRK. Federal agents discovered multiple firearms and firearm parts at Seery’s home and storage unit, along with the 3D printer he used to manufacture the weapon and silencer. During testimony, Seery’s wife revealed that even in January 2025, just weeks before the murder attempt, her husband remained angry about the affair that had occurred more than a decade earlier. Law enforcement testified that Seery attempted to disguise the nature of his payments to Obando by routing them through his business.
The case originally appeared to be a road rage incident before investigators uncovered the elaborate murder conspiracy. “This was a very unique case and a great example of how local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies worked together to solve what was originally thought to be a road rage incident but turned out to be a highly planned assassination attempt on the wrong person,” Jason Hudson, Special Agent in Charge of the Houston FBI office, said in a Facebook statement. The investigation involved coordination between multiple agencies including the FBI, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, and federal prosecutors. Despite months of planning by Seery and Obando, their victim selection proved fatally flawed when they failed to confirm their target’s current address.
The trial produced mixed results for federal prosecutors, who failed to secure a conviction against a third defendant. Jurors acquitted Matthew Rosas, 25, who was allegedly driving the vehicle when Obando opened fire on the highway. The verdict suggested jurors found insufficient evidence linking Rosas to the conspiracy, even as they convicted his co-defendants on multiple felony counts. Court records showed that Seery’s motivation stretched back to his time in prison, when suspicions about his wife’s faithfulness began consuming him. The timeline revealed that what started as jealousy and suspicion evolved into a calculated plan to eliminate the perceived threat to his marriage.
Both defendants received additional consecutive sentences beyond their life terms, meaning they will serve extra time in addition to their life imprisonment. The judge’s decision reflected the severity of the crimes and the danger posed by the defendants’ use of 3D-printed weapons in the attack. Federal sentencing guidelines for murder-for-hire conspiracies carry harsh penalties, particularly when they involve interstate commerce and sophisticated planning. The case also highlighted growing concerns about untraceable 3D-printed firearms and their use in serious crimes across the United States.
The victim, whose identity remains protected, survived the attack despite suffering multiple gunshot wounds during his routine drive to work. His dashboard camera footage became crucial evidence in the prosecution, providing clear documentation of the unprovoked assault on a busy Texas highway. The February morning attack occurred along State Highway 99, a major thoroughfare in Harris County that serves thousands of commuters daily.
The sentences close a case that demonstrated both the dangers of domestic jealousy and the sophisticated lengths some will go to settle personal grievances. With both Seery and Obando now facing life behind bars, the investigation stands as a warning about the deadly consequences when personal vendettas intersect with advanced weapon manufacturing technology and inadequate target verification.
