Moody, Simpson celebrate busting another retail theft ring
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said that another retail theft crime ring was shut down by state authorities.
The attorney general’s office said that Pinellas County pastor Robert Dell will face charges for running a theft ring allegedly stealing from The Home Depot.
They said authorities arrested four others for purportedly stealing more than $1.4 million of goods across the state, then reselling them on eBay.
The crime ring was busted by the Florida Organized Retail Crime Exchange Task Force.
“Due to the success of FORCE, another retail theft crime ring is dismantled, and our Statewide Prosecutors continue to file charges against organized retail thieves,” Moody said. “This pastor clearly skipped over the commandment—thou shall not steal.”
“Our FORCE taskforce shut down his criminal operation stealing millions of dollars worth of merchandise from Home Depot stores across the state to resell the items on eBay,” she continued. “We will not tolerate organized retail theft in Florida and my office will continue to combat these criminal organizations.”
Simpson said he’s “proud” of the arrests and contrasted Florida’s crime crackdown with “progressive states.”
“While some progressive states may look the other way or pursue reduced charges for retail theft, this operation sends a clear message that Florida is relentless in our pursuit of justice and will not tolerate this criminal activity,” Simpson said.
“I appreciate the investigators and law enforcement personnel who worked tirelessly on this case, as well as our partners at the Office of Statewide Prosecution and The Home Depot,” he said. “Together, we will continue to pursue a safer and more secure Florida for all its residents and visitors.”
The force was launched in December 2021 by Moody.
Last August, Moody also busted an organized retail theft ring that purportedly targeted several stores across the state in 14 counties.
