A pastor and wife duo who stole more than $2 million in a retail theft scheme are facing up to 150 and 30 years in prison, respectively, after being found guilty of violating the RICO Act (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act).
Robert Dell is the former pastor of The Rock Church in St. Petersburg, Florida. He and his wife Jaclyn were arrested in 2023, along with four other conspirators, and accused of stealing merchandise from Home Depot stores in the area, stashing it at their home, and then selling it on eBay under their “Anointed Liquidator” store.
This endevor netted them more than $2 million in profits over a decade and cost Home Depot more than $5 million in losses.
Because the church ran Recovery Program, a halfway house that helped people recover from addiction, Dell was accused of using his positon to “manipulate other vulnerable people to participate in the criminal scheme.”
Attorney General James Uthmeier noted: “These fraudsters hid their true motives behind faith and charity to launder proceeds from a large-scale criminal enterprise.”
According to a press release by the Attorney General’s office: “Following a two-week jury trial, Robert was found guilty as charged of RICO, Conspiracy to Commit RICO, Dealing in Stolen Property, and Money Laundering (2 counts). Jaclyn was also found guilty as charged of Conspiracy to Commit RICO.”
The two will be sentenced March 13.
