A former Tampa Bay-area pastor and his wife have been sentenced after being convicted in what prosecutors describe as a years-long organized retail theft operation that generated millions of dollars.
Robert Dell, 59, received a 30-year prison sentence, while his wife, Jaclyn Dell, 41, was sentenced to 21 months behind bars. The sentences were handed down on March 13 at the Pinellas County Justice Center, following their convictions in connection to the scheme.
Authorities say the couple orchestrated the operation from 2015 through 2023, targeting Home Depot stores across at least seven Florida counties, including Citrus, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota.
Investigators allege that a network of shoplifters would steal high-value power tools from multiple stores each day, sometimes hitting several locations in a single run. The stolen items were then delivered nightly to the Dells’ home in St. Petersburg, where they were sorted and prepared for resale.
Prosecutors say the couple sold the merchandise online through an eBay account operating under the name “Anointed Liquidator,” bringing in more than $2 million in revenue over the course of the scheme.
Two key participants in the theft ring, Jessica Wild, 34, and Daniel Mace, 38, both pleaded guilty and cooperated with authorities. Investigators say they met the Dells through an addiction recovery program connected to The Rock Church, where Robert Dell previously served as pastor. Wild was sentenced to 21 months, while Mace received 10 years in prison, in part due to his prior criminal history.
During sentencing, Jaclyn Dell claimed she was unaware the items were stolen, stating she trusted her husband and believed she was simply helping with a business. She also told the court she had experienced a relapse after more than a decade of sobriety.
Prosecutors, however, argued that she was an active participant in the scheme, alleging that both she and her husband knowingly exploited individuals they had met through recovery programs.
Following Robert Dell’s arrest, The Rock Church distanced itself from him, and the church has since closed permanently.
Authorities say the case highlights the scale of organized retail theft operations and the complex networks that can form around them, particularly when trust is abused.
