Deadly Lower Merion home invasion tied to gun trafficking scheme; 3rd suspect arrested
Deadly Lower Merion home invasion tied to gun trafficking scheme; 3rd suspect arrested
Authorities say a Pennsylvania man was murdered when two members of a gun trafficking operation went to the wrong house in an effort to steal guns from an elderly couple who had been hired by the junk removal company they worked for.
LOWER MERION, Pa. - Authorities in Montgomery County are releasing new details about a deadly home invasion in Lower Merion and the suspects' alleged connection to a sophisticated gun trafficking scheme.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele called a press conference Friday afternoon to share the news of new arrests in connection with the murder of Andrew Gaudio.
Gaudio’s 61-year-old mother was also shot during the incident and was paralyzed as a result of her injuries.
The backstory:
Police say Gaudio was fatally shot execution style while trying to protect his mother during the home invasion back on Dec. 8. His mother, despite her injuries, was able to call 911 after she was shot.
Officials say dispatchers could hear the suspects rummaging through the house in the background.
Police later identified Kelvin Roberts, 42, and Charles Fulforth, 41, as suspects in the incident and both were later arrested. The men worked together at a junk removal company called ‘Junkluggers.’
Deadly home invasion tied to larger gun trafficking operation, authorities say
Authorities in Montgomery County say a Pennsylvania man was murdered when two members of a gun trafficking operation went to the wrong house in an effort to steal guns from an elderly couple who had been hired by the junk removal company they worked for.
According to investigators, Roberts and Fulforth actually went to the wrong house on the night of the murder, and instead had planned to steal guns from an elderly couple in a neighboring county.
Detectives that interviewed both men said they both admitted to their involvement, though Roberts claimed he never entered the second floor or fired shots, and left to wait for Fulforth outside, but drove off as soon as police responded.
Authorities revealed Friday that the suspected murder weapon was later located in Fulforth’s Jenkintown apartment.
Another arrest made in Andrew Gaudio's murder
What we know:
On Friday, Steele revealed that a third suspect, Jeremy Fuentes, had been arrested and charged in connection with Gaudio’s murder.
The plotted home invasion was part of a gun trafficking operation, Steele said. He says Fuentes also worked at the same junk removal company in Willow Grove.
According to Steele, Fuentes gave an estimate to a homeowner in Bucks County on Dec. 6, two days before the deadly home invasion. Fuentes scheduled the junk removal at that home for Dec. 9.

Jeremy Fuentes (Montgomery County District Attorney)
Fuentes then allegedly relayed the information about guns and gun safes inside the Bucks County home to Roberts and Fulforth.
Fuentes was taken into custody Friday morning in Philadelphia. He's been charged with second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, and conspiracy to commit burglary.
"This tragic murder and attempted murder was all about greed and putting guns in the hands of criminals," said DA Steele. "If not for Fuentes’ involvement, the robbery/burglary would not have occurred and the Gaudios would still be living their normal lives. Now Fuentes is on the hook for Andrew Gaudio’s murder and the attempted murder of Berndadette Gaudio."
Gun trafficking ring busted in connection to deadly home invasion
Dig deeper:
Steele says a further search of Fulforth’s apartment not only led them to the murder weapon, but also to a larger gun trafficking operation.
A 3D printer was also found at another location connected to Fulforth that authorities say was used to manufacture firearms.
Steele says a total of eight people are involved in the gun trafficking organization, including all three men who have already been arrested.
The following suspects have already been taken into custody:
- Jeremy Fuentes
- Charles Fulforth
- Kelvin Roberts
- Jonathan Rodriguez
- Frances Staten
- Aaron Hiller
Marcus Lee Jackson and Corry K. Simpson remain at large.
Steele was surrounded by tables full of 3D printed weapons, and accessories like suppressors he says were recovered as part of the investigation. The suspects are accused of selling illegally sold, factory-made firearms as well as ghost guns they manufactured on their own. They're also accused of selling machine gun conversion devices, also known as ‘switches.’
He described some of the items being made and sold as part of the operation as ‘silent machine guns.’
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
The Source: Information in this article was sourced from previous FOX 29 reporting on this case, as well as a live press conference held by officials in Montgomery County on Friday.