Idiot of the Week: A Florida Pastor & Wife Leads a 1 Million Dollar Theft Ring

I bet there's no "thank you, Jesus," coming out of the mouth of a Florida pastor,  his wife and her mother, who were caught stealing and selling over a million dollars worth of goods from stores. This week's Idiots are a "Man of Godf" and his wife in Florida. Here's the story.

 

(Photos: Mugshots of Robert Dell, his wife and her mother. Credit: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.)

Pinellas pastor led ring that stole $1.4M in Home Depot goods, officials say

Robert Dell, his wife, her mother and 2 others are accused of selling the stolen merchandise on eBay, according to prosecutors.

By Michaela MulliganTimes staff, Aug. 11, 2024

A Pinellas County {Florida} pastor, his wife and others are accused of stealing over $1.4 million worth of home improvement merchandise from Home Depot stores across Florida and reselling the goods on eBay, state officials said.

Robert Dell, 56, also “forced vulnerable people” to take part in the scheme, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced this week. A news release from Moody’s office said Dell is a pastor at The Rock Church in St. Petersburg and the founder of a halfway house serving people recovering from drug addiction. But a note on the homepage of The Rock Church’s website says Dell hasn’t been pastor there for more than two years.

The news release names four other people as co-conspirators in the case: Jaclyn Dell, 39, who is Robert Dell’s wife; Karen Dell, 72, who is Robert Dell’s mother; Jessica Wild, 40; and Daniel Mace, 36.

Robert Dell, Jaclyn Dell and Karen Dell were arrested on Aug. 1 after officers with the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement executed a search warrant at Robert Dell’s home on the 2600 block of 39th Avenue North in St. Petersburg. He is charged with racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering and dealing in stolen property as an organizer.

Jaclyn Dell was arrested on a charge of conspiracy to commit racketeering and Karen Dell on a charge of dealing in stolen property. Mace, of Tampa, was arrested Wednesday on charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. Wild’s booking and charge information was not available.

According to Moody’s office, the group shoplifted Milwaukee, DeWalt and other branded products from Home Depot stores in Citrus, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota counties.

Mace and Wild stole a majority of the merchandise and, “on average, victimized stores five to six times a day,” the release said. The pair then delivered the products to Robert Dell, who sold them on an eBay storefront named “Anointed Liquidator,” the release said.

“According to the investigation, Dell demanded the crimes under threat of abuse and used the positions of being a pastor and founder of a halfway house to manipulate other vulnerable people to participate in the criminal scheme,” the release stated. The release did not give the name of the halfway house.

Home Depot suspects Robert Dell operated this scheme for more than 10 years, and that the company has lost more than $5 million, the release said. An eBay account with the name “annointedliquidator” that has sold tools matching the brands named in the release was created in August 2011. The account has sold more than 35,000 items, according to the website.

Robert Dell was being held in the Pinellas County Jail on Friday, with a bond set at $752,150. Jaclyn Dell was also being held Friday, with a bond set at $150,000. Mace was also still in jail, with a bond set at $500,000. Karen Dell was released from jail on Tuesday after posting $20,000 bail. Times staff writer Tony Marrero contributed to this report.