Spring City pair charged with mail and identity theft

A Chester County man who authorities say stole mail from dozens of residents in Chester and Montgomery counties is in prison following his arrest last month.

The Chester County District Attorney’s Office and the Tredyffrin Township Police Department announced the arrest of Joshua Lee Hartmann, 41, of Spring City, for stealing U.S. mail and the identities of hundreds of victims for monetary gain.

Hartmann, along with an accomplice, Jessica Michelle Zipkin, 33, also of Spring City, has been charged with forgery, identity theft, and roughly 10 additional fraud-related charges across two criminal cases. In total 527 counts were charged.

Magisterial District Judge Lauren Holt of Tredyffrin set bail at $300,000 on Feb. 21 and scheduled a preliminary hearing for April 18. Hartmann is currently being held at Chester County Prison unable to post $300,000 bail.

The criminal complaints filed by investigators Daniel

McFadden and Michael Cermignano indicate that over several months, the pair victimized hundreds of people when they stole their mail, modified the addresses on file with government agencies to steal their identities, and applied for credit cards in their names.

The Tredyffrin Township Police Department partnered with the Lower Providence Police Department and the United States Postal Inspection Service during the investigation.

The theft allegedly impacted victims in Schuylkill Township, Phoenixville, Malvern, and Tredyffrin, and two townships in Montgomery County — Lower Providence Township and Upper Providence Township.

Police ask that if anyone believes they have information that could be relevant to this matter or believes that they have been victimized, contact McFadden at 610-408-3649.

Chester County Assistant District Attorney Innessa Daniels is the assigned prosecutor.