Marcos Tomas Perez, a former security officer for the Miami Heat and retired Miami Police Department officer, pled guilty to a scheme involving the theft and sale of over $1.9 million worth of sports memorabilia. The 62-year-old admitted to the federal charges of transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce, as reported by WSVN.
During his tenure with the Miami Heat from 2016 to 2021, and later as NBA security staff from 2022 to 2025, Perez gained access to secured areas within the Kaseya Center, home to the team's future museum pieces. This access enabled the ex-officer to pilfer over 400 items, including game-worn jerseys, which he later sold online, underscoring the extensive breach of trust placed in his hands. "He's depressed, naturally, but he accepts responsibility for his behavior and we're gonna work through this issue in his life," defense attorney Robert Buschel said regarding Perez's guilty plea, as conveyed by NBC Miami.
The stolen memorabilia included a particularly coveted item: a game-worn LeBron James Miami Heat NBA Finals jersey, sold by Perez for about $100,000. This piece alone would later raise $3.7 million at a Sotheby's auction, illustrating the significant disparity between Perez's selling price and the true market value. Following a tip-off provided to "The Dan Le Batard Show" by NBA insider Amin Elhassan, the scope of the crime was uncovered, with Elhassan describing it as one of the largest, if not the largest, memorabilia heists in the history of this country. In any sport, as noted by Hoodline.
A search warrant executed at Perez's residence on April 3 led to the recovery of nearly 300 additional stolen items. These goods were confirmed as stolen from the Miami Heat's inventory. Facing a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of probation, and a fine up to $250,000, Perez awaits his sentencing on Oct. 31. Buschel commented "I hope that the judge will consider all factors in his life and his history as a good person, he was an exemplary police officer in the City of Miami, he's been retired for close to 10 years," according to statements obtained by NBC Miami.
