As reported by CNN
Federal officials have announced charges against a former Miami Heat basketball team security guard for stealing and selling team memorabilia worth millions of dollars. Marcos Thomas Perez, who worked with the NBA team from 2016 to 2021 and then in the league from 2022 to 2025, is the subject of this case.
During his time with Miami, Perez had access to a special room containing valuable equipment where the team’s memorabilia was stored. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, he stole over 400 game jerseys and other items intended for a future Heat museum. He then allegedly sold these items through online platforms.
Prosecutors claim that 62-year-old Perez sold more than 100 stolen items totaling around $2 million, often at prices below market value, shipping them across state lines.
Among the stolen items was a LeBron James game jersey from the NBA Finals, which Perez sold for nearly $100,000. This item was later auctioned at Sotheby’s for $3.7 million, authorities report.
Perez’s lawyer received a request for comment from CNN, but the Heat organization declined to comment due to the ongoing investigation.
In April, law enforcement conducted a search of Perez’s home, where approximately 300 additional game jerseys and memorabilia were seized. The Heat confirmed that these items had been stolen from the arena.
Perez, who previously served as a Miami police officer for 25 years, appeared in federal court for the first time on Tuesday, where he was charged with transporting and transferring stolen property across state lines. The FBI in Miami is conducting the investigation.