PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – A Pinellas County jury has convicted a St. Petersburg couple for orchestrating a massive, years-long retail theft operation that funneled millions of dollars in stolen goods through a front for addiction recovery.
Robert Dell, a former pastor at The Rock Church, and his wife, Jaclyn, were found guilty following a two-week trial that detailed a criminal enterprise spanning seven Florida counties.
The scheme, which authorities say ran from 2015 until 2023, relied on a network of co-conspirators who targeted Home Depot locations across Citrus, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota counties.
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According to investigators from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, thieves Jessica Wild and Daniel Mace stole high-value power tools and delivered the merchandise nightly to the Dells’ residence. From there, the items were sold through online platforms, generating more than $2 million in illegal proceeds over eight years.
While the couple presented their “transformation center” as a place of refuge and counseling for those struggling with drug addiction, prosecutors argued the facility served as a cover to launder money and manage the logistics of the theft ring.
“These fraudsters hid their true motives behind faith and charity to launder proceeds from a large-scale criminal enterprise,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “I am grateful to Ag Law Enforcement, FDLE, Chief Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Paul Dontenville, and Assistant Statewide Prosecutors Eric Ross and Gianna Fina for ensuring that justice was served in this case.”
Robert Dell was convicted of racketeering (RICO), conspiracy to commit RICO, dealing in stolen property, and two counts of money laundering. His wife, Jaclyn, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit RICO.
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The convictions carry heavy penalties under Florida law; Robert faces a maximum sentence of 150 years in prison, while Jaclyn faces up to 30 years.
The arrests, which originally took place in August 2023, marked the culmination of a joint effort between state prosecutors and multiple law enforcement agencies.
“At The Home Depot, the safety of our associates is our top priority. We have implemented comprehensive strategies to protect against organized retail crime (ORC) over the past few years with great success, but it remains at a high across the retail industry,” said Scott Glenn, Vice President of Asset Protection at The Home Depot. “We’re proud to play a role in the nationwide effort to combat ORC and grateful for the partnership and dedication of Attorney General Uthmeier and local law enforcement in investigating these cases and holding offenders accountable.”
The Dells are currently being held pending their sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for March 13, 2025, in Pinellas County.
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From Pews To Prison: St. Petersburg Duo Convicted In Multi-Million Dollar Retail Theft Ring
