A Florida pastor was one of multiple people arrested for their alleged involvement in a Home Depot theft ring.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody said Robert Dell, a pastor at The Rock Church in St. Petersburg and founder of a halfway house for people recovering from drug addiction, was arrested for operating the multimillion-dollar theft ring.
Moody said Dell and four other associates were arrested for stealing merchandise from brands such as Milwaukee and DeWalt.
The merchandise, which officials said added up to over $1 million, was stolen from Home Depots across several Florida counties. It was then sold on eBay under the account "Anointed Liquidator," officials added.
Officials said Dell threatened abuse and "used the positions of being a pastor and founder of a halfway house to manipulate other vulnerable people" into committing the crimes. According to the press release, Home Depot believes Dell was operating the scheme for over 10 years, costing the company over $5 million.
Co-conspirators Daniel Mace and Jessica Wild stole a majority of the merchandise from stores five to six times a day on average before they delivered it to Dell to be sold on eBay, according to officials.
They added that Dell's wife, Jaclyn Dell, and his mother, Karen Dell, both assisted in the collection, shipment and payment of the stolen merchandise.
Robert Dell is facing charges of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering and dealing in stolen property as an organizer. Jaclyn Dell is facing a charge of conspiracy to RICO, and Karen Dell was charged with dealing in stolen property.
The Rock Church refuted Moody's claim that Dell was still a pastor at the church and put up a statement its website:
"Just to clear the record. Robert Dell is NOT the pastor of the Rock Church.
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."
This story was originally published by Rebekah Nelson at Scripps News Tampa.
