He was the pastor of a church that helped drug addicts find redemption, but Robert Dell is now accused of using those same addicts to steal more than $1.4 million worth of goods from DIY stores.
Dell, 56, and originally from Goshen, Orange County, in upstate New York, has been charged with racketeering and dealing in stolen property, arising from his work as pastor at the Rock Church in St. Petersburg, Florida.
He was the director of a halfway house for recovering drug addicts. Prosecutors say it was a recruiting ground for Dell’s massive theft ring.
Through the operation, those involved took drills and other equipment totaling more than $1.4 million from Home Depots DIY stores in several parts of Florida, from 2016 onward.
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
“Co-conspirators, Daniel Mace and Jessica Wild, stole the majority of the merchandise and, on average, victimized stores five to six times a day,” according to a statement from the Florida Attorney General’s Office.
“The co-conspirators then delivered the merchandise to Pastor Dell’s house to be sold under the eBay store name: ‘Anointed Liquidator.’ That is also the name of the St. Petersburg-based company he set up in 2014 to oversee the business, listing himself and his wife as co-directors, according to company records seen by Newsweek.
Prosecutors allege Dell used vulnerable people, sometimes manipulating them and coercing them into cooperating.
Home Depot believes he operated the scheme for more than 10 years, resulting in the loss of more than $5 million, the attorney general’s office said.
Scott Glenn, the company’s vice president of asset protection, told The Wall Street Journal on Saturday that the number of thefts in Tampa dropped after Dell was charged.
Four other people are named as indicted co-conspirators: Jaclyn Dell, 39, who is Dell’s wife; Karen Dell, 72, who is Dell’s mother; Wild, 40; and Mace, 36.
Jaclyn and Karen were allegedly assisting in the collection, shipment and receiving payment for the stolen goods. Jaclyn is charged with conspiracy and Karen with dealing in stolen property.
Robert Dell was “[forcing] vulnerable people” to take part in the mass theft, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said this week.
According to Moody’s office, the group stole Milwaukee, DeWalt and other branded drill and home maintenance products from Home Depot stores in Citrus, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota counties in Florida.
“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 said.
Friends from their work at The Rock have been posting supportive, religious-themed messages on the couple’s Facebook since news of the indictments emerged, while other people have been posting comments highly critical of the pair.
“Praying for you and Robert Dell. Never forget God’s got you and a plan and purpose for your journeys. Much love to you both,” one woman wrote.
Jaclyn Dell is originally from Houston, Texas, and lives with her husband in St. Petersburg. She lists Target as a previous employer.
She has shared numerous vacation photos with her husband on Facebook, such as at the Pacific Park amusement park in Santa Monica, California, and they both posted from a recent positive-living conference at a Florida resort.
A message on the homepage of The Rock Church’s website said Dell hasn’t been pastor there for more than two years.
“Just to clear the record. Robert Dell is NOT the pastor of the rock church,” the note on the The Rock Church’s website said. “He wasn’t the founding pastor either. He was the pastor when it was named the Rock Community Church and Transformation Center, and hasn’t been a pastor for the last 2 1/2 years.”
“We do know that Robert Dell currently has some serious charges, and we will pray for the entire matter and everyone involved,” the church said on its Facebook page.
Mace, of Tampa, was arrested on Wednesday on charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. Wild’s charges are not yet available.
Robert Dell was being held in the Pinellas County Jail on Friday, with bond set at $752,150. Jaclyn Dell was also being held on Friday, with 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.