Former Miami Heat security official faces charges for memorabilia theft
A former Miami Heat security officer, identified as Marcos Thomas Perez, appeared in federal court on Tuesday after being accused of selling stolen jerseys and other valuables, estimated to be worth millions of dollars.
Perez, 62 years old and a Miami resident, faces charges for transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce.
According to a joint statement from the Southern District of Florida and the FBI in Miami, authorities executed a search warrant at Perez’s residence on April 3, seizing approximately 300 game-worn jerseys and other stolen valuables. The Heat team confirmed that the items had been taken from their facilities.
The indictment documents reveal that Perez sold the items to online intermediaries. It is estimated that, over a three-year period, Perez sold more than 100 stolen objects for approximately $2 million, sending them across state lines, often at reduced prices.
Among the stolen items was a Miami Heat jersey worn by LeBron James during the NBA Finals, which Perez sold for approximately $100,000. Subsequently, this same jersey was sold at a Sotheby’s auction for $3.7 million.
Perez, a retired veteran of the Miami Police Department, worked for the Heat from 2016 to 2021 and as an NBA security employee from 2022 to 2025.
His function included security on game days at the Kaseya Center, and he had access to a secure equipment room where memorabilia destined for a future team museum was stored. Documents indicate that Perez accessed this room to steal, in total, more than 400 game-worn jerseys and other items.
