Former Miami Heat Security Officer Pleads Guilty to Stealing and Selling Game-Worn Jerseys Worth Millions

Strategic Insights -

Marcos Tomas Perez, a 25-year veteran of the City of Miami Police Department and a former security officer for the Miami Heat, pleaded guilty to transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce. Perez stole hundreds of game-worn jerseys and other valuable memorabilia from the Miami Heat's secured equipment room and sold them through online marketplaces, earning approximately $1.9 million over a three-and-a-half-year period. The stolen jerseys, including a rare game-worn LeBron James Miami Heat NBA Finals jersey, were sold at significantly lower prices than their market value, with one jersey later selling at a Sotheby's auction for $3.7 million.

Key Takeaways:

  • Perez stole more than 400 game-worn jerseys and other items from the Miami Heat's secured equipment room between 2016 and 2025.
  • Perez sold over 100 stolen items through online marketplaces, earning approximately $1.9 million between 2022 and 2025.
  • A stolen game-worn LeBron James Miami Heat NBA Finals jersey was sold by Perez for approximately $100,000 and later sold at a Sotheby's auction for $3.7 million.
  • Perez worked on the game-day security detail at the Kaseya Center, where he had access to the secured equipment room storing game-worn jerseys and memorabilia.
  • Perez's employer, the City of Miami Police Department, and his current employer, the Miami Heat, were not aware of his thefts during his employment.
  • Perez faces prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Moore and is being investigated by the FBI Miami.

Statistics:

  • 400+: Number of game-worn jerseys and other items stolen by Perez from the Miami Heat's secured equipment room.
  • 100+: Number of stolen items sold by Perez through online marketplaces.
  • $1.9 million: Approximate earnings by Perez through selling stolen items between 2022 and 2025.
  • $3.7 million: Sale price of a stolen game-worn LeBron James Miami Heat NBA Finals jersey at a Sotheby's auction.
  • 2016-2025: Time period during which Perez stole game-worn jerseys and other items from the Miami Heat.

Sources:

  • United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida
  • FBI Miami
  • Miami Heat