A trusted figure behind the scenes of the Miami Heat organization is now at the center of a massive federal investigation involving stolen sports memorabilia worth millions.
Marcos Thomas Perez, a 62-year-old former Heat security guard and longtime Miami police officer, appeared in federal court Tuesday on charges that he stole and resold hundreds of pieces of game-worn memorabilia, including jerseys worn by some of the NBA’s biggest stars.
According to federal prosecutors, Perez took advantage of his backstage access to the Heat’s secure equipment room—a space reserved for authentic, game-used gear—to steal more than 400 jerseys over the years. He then sold about 100 of them across state lines, collecting roughly $2 million. The remaining 300 items were recovered during a search of his home and confirmed as stolen by the team.
Among the stolen treasures: a LeBron James NBA Finals jersey. Perez allegedly sold it for around $100,000—far below its true value. That same jersey was later auctioned at Sotheby’s for a staggering $3.7 million, prosecutors said.
Perez’s law enforcement career spanned more than two decades with the Miami Police Department. After retiring from the force, he began working security for the Miami Heat in 2016, a role he held until 2021. He also worked events for the NBA itself between 2022 and 2025.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida is prosecuting the case, with assistance from the Miami division of the FBI and support from the Miami Police Department.
Authorities say the stolen memorabilia had been set aside by the team for a future Miami Heat museum.
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