John Pierson, left, and James Godwin (Credit: Hilltown Township Police)
All charges were held for Bucks County Common Pleas Court at a preliminary hearing last week for two men nabbed via facial recognition software and a hand tattoo for alleged identity theft offenses.
James Anthony Godwin, 31, of the 30th block of Main Street, Souderton, and John Pierson, 30, of the 3900 block of Arcadia Street, Philadelphia, each face felony charges of identity theft, criminal conspiracy to engage in identity theft with Godwin, and access device fraud, as well as misdemeanor theft and receiving stolen property, per court records.
The pair are accused of using a debit card belonging to someone else for three separate transactions totaling more than $500 on Jan. 8, 2026 at the Walmart located at 1515 Bethlehem Pike in Hilltown Township.
Police were dispatched around 6:11 p.m. that evening after the victim reported her debit card had been used without authorization. She told investigators the three transactions totaled $501.38, broken down into purchases of $21.96, $419.06 and $60.36, according to the affidavit.
Walmart loss prevention provided transaction records, video footage and still images to police. Surveillance video showed two men enter the store, select merchandise and approach the register, where they allegedly used the victim's debit card to complete the purchases before leaving with the items.
Investigators said they immediately recognized one of the suspects as Godwin from a prior unrelated investigation, per the complaint.
Detectives later identified the second suspect as Pierson through facial recognition software and social media images, noting a skull tattoo on the back of his left hand that matched one visible in the surveillance footage.
Godwin is charged with felony identity theft, criminal conspiracy, access device fraud, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property. The identity theft and access device charges are graded as third-degree felonies, while the theft-related offenses are misdemeanors, court documents show
Police allege the pair conspired to use the victim's identifying information and debit card without her consent in order to obtain retail merchandise.
Both are free on $75,000 unsecured bail each, per court records. Formal arraignment is set for April 10 for both suspects.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
