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Miami, FL - A former Miami Heat security worker and retired Miami police officer has been charged in connection with a massive memorabilia theft, allegedly involving millions of dollars' worth of game-used jerseys and other valuable items.
Marcos Thomas Perez, 62, faces charges of transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce, following an investigation by the FBI.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida confirmed the charges on Tuesday.
Perez worked for the Miami Heat from 2016 to 2021 and as an NBA security employee from 2022 to 2025.
During this time, he is accused of accessing a secured equipment room at the Kaseya Center and stealing more than 400 game-worn jerseys and memorabilia, which were intended for a future Miami Heat museum.
Authorities say that over a three-year period, Perez allegedly sold over 100 stolen items for approximately $2 million.
One of the high-profile items sold was a game-worn LeBron James Miami Heat NBA Finals jersey, which Perez reportedly sold for around $100,000.
The same jersey later sold at auction for $3.7 million.
On April 3rd, a search warrant was executed at Perez’s home, where nearly 300 additional stolen items were recovered.
These items were confirmed as stolen from the Miami Heat facility.
Perez made his initial appearance in federal court on Tuesday.
He served as a Miami police officer from November 1992 to April 2016.