“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.”
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“Together, we will continue to pursue a safer and more secure Florida for all its residents and visitors,” Simpson added.
While the attorney general’s press release indicated that Dell founded the church and was currently serving as its pastor, the church clarified via its website that Dell “is not the pastor of The Rock Church. He wasn’t the founding pastor either. He was the pastor when it was named The Rock Community Church and Transformation Center, and hasn’t been a pastor for the last 2 1/2 years.”
“There are quite a few inconsistencies with the current news reports, which we are trying to rectify currently with the attorney general,” the church said in a Facebook post.
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The Rock Church indicated that it has no desire to “disparage” Dell, but a public clarification became necessary after the church received “all sorts of hate messages and emails and phone calls.”
