Man who killed girlfriend's tenant over rent dispute sentenced to prison

RAMONA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) -- A man who killed the tenant of his girlfriend in 2020 over a rent dispute in East County has been sentenced to prison, San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said.

Michael Hughes, 75, has been sentenced to 50 years-to-life in prison for fatally shooting Mario Velasquez Cardoso, 46. Last September, a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder.

DA Stephan said Hughes drove to Cardoso's home in Ramona in November of 2020. His girlfriend was the landlord of the house and had been involved in a dispute with Cardoso's family for months, authorities said.

In the weeks leading up to the fatal shooting, Hughes reportedly removed a surveillance camera that would have captured footage of the killer, the district attorney stated.

He then closed a gate at the driveway of the home in order to force Cardoso to have to exit his vehicle and open it, the DA continued. As Cardoso tried to open the gate so he could go to work, Hughes fired a single shot which killed Cardoso and then left the scene.

Sheriff's homicide detectives identified Hughes as a suspect and contacted him 16 hours after the shooting. However, authorities said there was not enough evidence to arrest him at that time, according to the district attorney.

"It was clear Hughes carefully planned the murder. He conducted reconnaissance on the house, tested his rifle in the days leading up to the murder, disposed of the murder weapon, wiped his computer history, and attempted to place blame on an innocent third party," DA Stephan said in a statement.