Ex-pastor and wife jailed for $2M power tool theft ring in Florida
A former Florida pastor and his wife have been jailed for masterminding a large-scale theft ring that stole millions of dollars' worth of power tools. Robert Dell, once a respected addiction recovery leader, used his position to recruit vulnerable people into the criminal operation. The scheme ran for eight years before authorities dismantled it last year.
Robert Dell and his wife Jaclyn were convicted of organising a theft network that targeted Home Depot stores across Florida. Between 2015 and 2023, the group stole tools daily, generating over $2 million in illegal profits. The stolen goods were sorted, repackaged, and shipped from the Dells' home, often with help from Robert's mother, Karen Dell.
The couple sold the tools online through an eBay account named *Anointed Liquidator*. Two key members, Jessica Wild and Daniel Mace, admitted to stealing thousands of dollars' worth of merchandise each day. Wild received a 21-month prison sentence, while Mace was jailed for 10 years. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody called the operation a major organised retail crime ring. Investigators identified 12 additional accomplices, including Karen Dell, who allegedly fenced over €500,000 of stolen goods in Munich between 2022 and 2025. The Rock Church, where Robert Dell once preached, has since closed permanently and publicly distanced itself from him. Robert Dell was sentenced to 30 years in prison. His wife, Jaclyn, received a 21-month term for her role in the scheme.
The theft ring's collapse follows a lengthy investigation into its cross-county operations. Twelve more individuals now face charges as accomplices. The case highlights how organised retail crime can exploit community trust for large-scale fraud.
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