MIAMI (AP) — In a surprising turn of events, a former security officer for the Miami Heat, Marcos Thomas Perez, found himself pleading guilty on Tuesday. He is charged with illegally transporting and trading stolen memorabilia valued at millions.
At 62 years old, Perez boasts a noteworthy background, having served as a police officer in Miami for 25 years. His stint with the Heat ran from 2016 until 2021, after which he continued his work in NBA security from 2022 through 2025.
The investigation, led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the FBI in Miami, revealed that Perez exploited his position. He made off with more than 400 jerseys and assorted memorabilia from a secure equipment room — items meant for future display in a team museum. Since he worked the game-day security tasks at the Kaseya Center, he was one of the few with authorized access to this room.
In just three years, Perez reportedly sold over 100 pieces of stolen sports memorabilia for around $1.9 million, often delivering them across state lines at surprisingly low prices. Notably, he managed to sell a jersey worn by LeBron James during the NBA Finals for a whopping $100,000, despite the fact that this same jersey later fetched $3.7 million at a Sotheby’s auction.
