A former Miami Heat security officer and longtime law enforcement veteran is at the center of a federal investigation into a high-value sports memorabilia theft that has rocked one of the NBA’s most prominent franchises. Marcos Thomas Perez, 62, of Miami, made his initial appearance in federal court Tuesday, facing charges of transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce.
Perez, a 25-year retired veteran of the Miami Police Department, is accused of stealing hundreds of pieces of valuable memorabilia — including game-worn jerseys — from a secure equipment room at the Kaseya Center, where he worked as part of the Heat’s game-day security detail. According to charging documents, he used his exclusive access to remove more than 400 items over several years, many of which were intended for display in a future Miami Heat team museum.
A joint announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the Miami FBI revealed that law enforcement executed a search warrant at Perez’s home on April 3. There, agents discovered approximately 300 stolen items, including a trove of game-worn jerseys.
Among the most shocking allegations is that Perez sold a Miami Heat jersey worn by LeBron James during the NBA Finals for only $100,000 — a fraction of its value. That same jersey later appeared at a Sotheby’s auction, where it fetched a staggering $3.7 million.
Federal authorities say Perez sold more than 100 stolen items over a three-year span, generating approximately $2 million in sales. He allegedly funneled the memorabilia through online brokers and shipped items across state lines, often offering them at cut-rate prices to avoid detection.
The Miami Heat confirmed the stolen items had been taken from their facility. In a statement, the organization said, “We are deeply disappointed to learn that a former employee betrayed the trust of our organization and our fans. We are cooperating fully with federal authorities and will do everything we can to recover these items and protect the integrity of our franchise history.”
Perez’s employment history includes working for the Miami Heat from 2016 to 2021, followed by a role with the NBA as a security staffer from 2022 until early 2025. He was reportedly one of the few individuals with authorized access to the Heat’s memorabilia storage room — a secured space designated for archiving and preserving team history.
Prosecutors say the investigation remains ongoing and have not ruled out additional charges or co-conspirators.
Perez has not yet entered a plea. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
