Jealousy leads to tragic mistake: 3D printed gun used in highway murder-for-hire plot

Two men in Texas are sentenced to life in prison after a murder-for-hire scheme mistakenly targeted an innocent individual.

In February, Ricardo Obando Jr., 52, from Houston, and Michael Seery, 43, from Katy — a suburb east of Houston — were found guilty on multiple charges related to a plot that left an unsuspecting man seriously injured on his commute.

Obando was found guilty of two charges connected to the conspiracy and three related to firearms, as confirmed by court documents seen by Law&Crime.

Seery faced the same charges plus two additional ones for possessing a firearm illegally.

On Wednesday, US District Judge David Hittner sentenced both men to life imprisonment. Each would also serve additional, consecutive time for other charges beyond the life sentences.

The crime originated from Seery's doubts about his wife's fidelity during his incarceration. Seery hired Obando to carry out the murder, based on a press release by the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas.

The violence peaked on the morning of Feb. 4, 2025, on Highway 99, when Obando fired several shots into an unsuspecting driver’s car.

The victim sustained gunshot wounds to his neck, torso, and hand but managed to survive.

Video from inside the victim’s vehicle captured the terrifying moment shots were fired, followed by a desperate call to 911, according to a court account by Houston-based NBC affiliate KPRC.

Obando assaulted using a 3D-printed firearm and suppressor.

"An innocent man was suddenly attacked with bullets during his regular commute—all stemming from one man's jealousy and incorrect information," stated US Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Unfortunately, Seery targeted the wrong person due to a change of address by the intended target.

In court, federal attorneys presented cellphone records demonstrating Obando’s extensive monitoring of the victim, along with proof of an earlier failed assassination attempt, according to a report by Houston-area ABC affiliate KTRK.

The jury examined the evidence in depth: During the trial, Seery's spouse testified that the romantic affair he was upset over had happened around 12 years prior.

"Testimony indicated that even in January 2025, weeks before the attempted murder, Seery remained fixated on the affair," according to the official press release.

"The evidence featured numerous images of firearms and components discovered at Seery's residence and storage. The jury also saw the 3D printer used by Seery to fabricate the gun and silencer Obando allegedly used."

Testimony showed that Seery obscured payments to Obando by routing them through his business.

However, the case wasn't entirely in the state's favor.

Jurors absolved a third man, Matthew Rosas, 25, who was suspected of driving the car involved in the shooting.

"This was an extraordinary case illustrating how local, state, and federal law enforcement worked in unison to resolve what initially appeared to be a road rage incident but was, in fact, a meticulously planned murder attempt on an innocent individual," Jason Hudson, Special Agent in Charge at the Houston FBI office, commented in a statement on Facebook.