A former Miami Heat security officer appeared in federal court on charges of transporting and transferring stolen goods across state lines. Marcos Thomas Perez, 62, of Miami, is accused of stealing game-worn jerseys and other memorabilia valued at millions of dollars from the team and selling them online.
According to federal prosecutors, Perez worked for the Miami Heat as a security officer between 2016 and 2021 after retiring from the City of Miami Police Department. He later served as an NBA security employee from 2022 to 2025. During this time, he was part of the game-day security detail at Kaseya Center and had access to a secured equipment room containing hundreds of valuable items intended for display in a future Miami Heat museum.
Authorities allege that Perez stole more than 400 game-worn jerseys and other memorabilia during his employment. Over three years, he sold over 100 stolen items for about $2 million through various online marketplaces, often at prices below their market value. For example, a LeBron James NBA Finals jersey was sold by Perez for around $100,000 before being resold at auction for $3.7 million.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Perez’s home on April 3 and recovered nearly 300 additional stolen jerseys and memorabilia. The Miami Heat confirmed these items were taken from their facility.
“United States Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Brett D. Skiles of the FBI, Miami Field Office made the announcement.”
“FBI Miami is investigating the case. The Miami Police Department provided invaluable assistance.”
“Assistant United States Attorney Robert Moore is prosecuting the case.”
Copies of press releases related to this matter are available on the United States Attorney’s Office website: www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Court documents can be accessed through the District Court for the Southern District of Florida (www.flsd.uscourts.gov) or via PACER (http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov), under case number 25-cr-20346.
