Courts. (Credit: Flickr/Creative Commons)
Three co-workers charged in a deadly home invasion robbery in Lower Merion Township, in which they allegedly targeted the wrong house while attempting to steal guns as part of a gun trafficking operation, have entered not guilty pleas in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.
On Wednesday, Kelvin Roberts Jr., 42, of the 7200 block of North 21st Street, Philadelphia, and Charles Edward Fulforth, 41, of the 1600 block The Fairway, in the Jenkintown section of Abington Township, appeared for their arraignment before Common Pleas Judge Risa Vetri Ferman on charges related to the Dec. 8, 2024 crime, in which Andrew Gaudio, 25, was fatally shot during the break-in. His mother, Bernadette Gaudio, 61, was wounded, but survived.
Both are charged with first- and second-degree murder, attempted murder, robbery, burglary and conspiracy.
According to The Mercury, the Montgomery County District Attorney's office decided not to seek the death penalty despite the severity of the crime, indicating that the decision was influenced by mitigation evidence and the wishes of the victim’s family.
District Attorney Kevin R. Steele said that after reviewing both the aggravating and mitigating factors, they decided a life sentence was a more appropriate punishment, per the report.
Kelvin Roberts, 42 (Image courtesy of the Montgomery County DA)
Charles Fulforth, 41, of Jenkintown (Image courtesy of the Montgomery County DA)Roberts and Fulforth showed no emotion as the judge set a trial date for July 21, per the report.
The legal team for both Roberts and Fulforth expressed their readiness for trial. Roberts’ defense attorney, Francis John Genovese, indicated that his client was eager to defend against all charges per the report.
He also welcomed the quicker trial process now that the death penalty was off the table. Similarly,
Fulforth’s lawyer, Brooks Thompson, represented his client during the hearing, asserting that Fulforth would be prepared to contest the allegations in court, according to the article.
A third defendant, Jeremy Fuentes, 26, of the 7200 block of North 18th Street, Philadelphia, was also charged in connection with the crime, though he did not take part in the actual home invasion, police said. He waived his formal arraignment and entered a not guilty plea through is attorney, Sean E. Cullen, per the report.
Jeremy Fuentes, 26, of Philadelphia. (Credit: Montgomery County District Attorney)Fuentes is accused of providing the information that led Roberts and Fulforth to target the Gaudio residence, police said. Fuentes faces charges of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary.
Fuentes’ involvement in the home invasion is central to the prosecution’s case. Though he did not physically participate, Fuentes’ alleged role as the one who provided critical information has made him an accomplice under the law, authorities said.
All three men will remain in jail without bail.
The trio worked together at Junkluggers in Upper Moreland Township, which further ties them together in the lead-up to the crime, investigators said.
The investigation was a team effort between Steele, and Lower Merion, Upper Moreland and Abington Township police departments.
The homicide investigation by the Montgomery County Detective Bureau and Lower Merion Township Police found that information allegedly provided by Fuentes to Fulforth was the impetus behind Fulforth and Roberts allegedly entering the Lower Merion home to burglarize and rob it of firearms.
Authorities said that Fuentes had met on Dec. 6, 2024, with Bucks County homeowners, with a similar address as the Lower Merion home, to provide them with an estimate for removal of items by Junkluggers.
When Fuentes was in the home, he observed a large gun safe, multiple firearms boxes, gun parts and ammunition, none of which were part of the estimate to be removed by Junkluggers, Steele said.
Following the estimate, Fuentes allegedly called Fulforth and shared with him the information regarding the multiple firearms and related items in the home. He also allegedly told Fulforth that the homeowners were elderly.
Fuentes and Fulforth were interested in stealing the firearms to further their alleged gun trafficking organization that illegally sold factory-made firearms as well as privately made ghost guns, machine gun conversion devices (aka switches) and silencers using multiple 3D-printers.
Andrew was shot execution style; Bernadette was able to call 911 to report the shooting.
Authorities said the home-invasion homicide occurred in the unit block of Meredith Road, in the Wynnewood section of Lower Merion Township at about 2:20 a.m.
According to county dispatch, a call for a shooting was reported at 2:22 a.m. in the area with a female calling to say she was shot.
In the wake of the shooting, police were seeking a silver or white 4-door sedan with handicapped Pennsylvania license plates, “24963” displayed at the rear of the car, police said.
Police were also searching a 2004 green Jeep Cherokee, with Pennsylvania Registration license plate number: LFS6673, which was stolen during the home-invasion and later recovered in West Philadelphia.
That vehicle led them to a home on Sansom Street and a search warrant was executed on the home. Authorities said the car had a stolen tag that was registered to a deceased individual.
One of the items found in the Sansom Street residence was a jewelry box, which was identified by Bernadette as hers, investigators said.
Ring cameras and other home security cameras in the area aided in the investigation, especially footage showing people bringing items into the Sansom Street home.
Roberts has an extensive criminal history dating back to 2003, including numerous felony drug dealing and illegal weapons possession convictions, per court records.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
