What started as a headline‑grabbing 2024 murder‑for‑hire case in West Palm Beach just ended with a whimper, not a bang.
Two South Florida men once accused of plotting a killing are back on the street after pleading guilty Thursday to reduced charges and getting credit for the time they had already served in the Palm Beach County jail.
Juan C. Herran, 46, of West Palm Beach, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit aggravated battery. Vladimir J. Fareau Jr., 44, of Miami Gardens, pleaded guilty to felony battery. Both men were sentenced to time served and ordered to pay court costs, according to WPBF.
How police say the attack unfolded
Police say the confrontation stemmed from trouble at a bar where the victim worked as a manager and Fareau had been disruptive.
According to investigators, after Fareau was dropped off at the train station at 203 N. Tamarind Ave., he placed a video call to Herran and held up the phone so Herran could see the victim. Authorities say Herran then told the victim, “This is how I wanna to see you,” just before things turned physical.
Fareau allegedly grabbed the victim by the throat and reached for a gun. A struggle broke out among all three men. Two shots were fired, and the victim escaped with minor injuries after biting Fareau’s chest, then his nose, in what police described as self‑defense.
Detectives later said that material found on Herran’s cellphone suggested a murder‑for‑hire plan, with the case details coming from West Palm Beach police records cited by WPBF.
Legal outcome and unanswered questions
Prosecutors initially charged both men in 2024 with attempted first‑degree murder and conspiracy to commit first‑degree murder with a firearm, accusations that could have carried decades in prison.
Instead, the court accepted pleas to the lesser battery‑related offenses. With time served covering their new sentences, the pair walked out of jail the same day, and the criminal case wrapped up in circuit court.
The plea deals close out the prosecution, but the underlying police reports and case records remain available for anyone who wants to sift through how an alleged murder‑for‑hire plot turned into a battery conviction.
Where to find court records
Members of the public can review filings and docket entries through the Palm Beach County Clerk’s online portal at myPalmBeachClerk. The case search tools and public dockets there should show the battery pleas, the time‑served sentences, and the judge’s orders on court costs.
