NORRISTOWN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — The three men charged with murder for December’s deadly home invasion in Lower Merion have also been ordered to stand trial on gun trafficking charges. Prosecutors say that a gun trafficking ring was the motive for the home invasion, but the men targeted the wrong address.
Kelvin Roberts, 42, and Charles Fulforth, 41, were accused of breaking into a home on Meredith Drive in Wynnewood on Dec. 8, shooting and killing 25-year-old Andrew Gaudio, and wounding his mother.
Jeremy Fuentes, 26, who worked with Roberts and Fulforth at Junk Luggers in Jenkintown, was charged with second-degree murder. Prosecutors say while he wasn’t at the home that night, he set the events in motion when he told Roberts and Fulforth about a house with several gun safes. Police say they confused the address and went to the wrong home.
In addition to murder, Fuentes, Roberts, and Fulforth were charged with five others as being part of a gun trafficking ring that illegally transferred factory-made guns along with 3D-printed, untraceable weapons.
“Each one of the defendants played a critical role in this organization, and that they all obtained something from it, and that the ultimate goal was to not only arm themselves, but to arm other individuals,” said prosecutor Kathleen McLaughlin.
At their Monday preliminary hearing on those charges, a detective spent hours reading text messages found on Fulforth’s phone, which McLaughlin said is evidence of his involvement in the ring. “Also the fact that these guns haven't been recovered,” she said, “which is other proof that the transfers happened and that they are out there in the hands of individuals.”
Defense attorneys argued the text messages presented do not show active participation in a gun ring, but the judge ruled it was enough to order the eight to stand trial.