Last Friday, a former St. Petersburg pastor and his wife, already convicted this year of running a long-running organized retail theft ring that hit Home Depot stores across Florida, walked back into the Pinellas County Justice Center to learn how much prison time they could be facing. Prosecutors say the couple used a faith-based “transformation center” and a halfway-house program as a pipeline, recruiting people in addiction recovery to steal pricey tools that were then flipped online.
Prosecutors say they preyed on people in recovery
In court, prosecutors argued that Robert and Jaclyn Dell turned their supposed ministry into a front for a high-volume shoplifting operation, exploiting people who had come to them for help, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The outlet reports that Robert Dell was convicted of racketeering and money laundering tied to the scheme, while his wife was convicted of conspiracy charges. Prosecutors said proceeds from the repeated thefts were routed through online sales and other accounts to disguise where the money came from.
How the scheme worked
State investigators say two primary runners focused on Milwaukee and DeWalt power tools, swiping them from Home Depot locations in multiple counties, then dropping the merchandise off at the Dells’ home almost every night. There, the tools were listed on eBay under the handle “Anointed Liquidator,” according to a press release from the Office of the Attorney General. The Attorney General’s office says Dell leaned on his roles as a former pastor and halfway-house director to pressure participants into stealing, sometimes “under threat of abuse.” The announcement credited the FORCE taskforce, FDLE and the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement with pulling the case together.
Scope and suspected haul
Investigators say the ring touched Home Depot stores in seven Florida counties and operated over several years. Agency records list at least $1.4 million in identified stolen merchandise, while some retailers estimate the losses were even higher. Newsweek reported that co-conspirators Daniel Mace and Jessica Wild were accused of hitting stores “five to six times a day” and that some of the stolen tools were funneled through a St. Petersburg-based company linked to the couple. Court filings and statements from law enforcement officials at the time track with those details.
Convictions, penalties and next steps
Robert Dell now stands convicted of racketeering and money laundering, and his wife has been found guilty of conspiracy to commit racketeering. Both appeared for sentencing last Friday at the Pinellas County Justice Center, the Tampa Bay Times reports. Prosecutors told the court that Robert could theoretically face up to 150 years behind bars, while his wife’s maximum potential sentence is significantly lower. The ultimate punishment will be set by the judge, and whatever terms are handed down could still be challenged on appeal…