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Ex-Miami Heat Security Officer’s $1.9M Jersey Heist: How He Exploited His Access

Ex-Heat security officer Perez pleads guilty to stealing & selling team memorabilia for $1.9M; faces prison.

byEditorial Staff

August 27, 2025, 12:59 PM

Kaseya Center - Miami Heat. Photo by Felix Mizioznikov/Shutterstock.

Executive Summary

Former Miami Heat security officer Marcos Tomas Perez pleaded guilty to transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce.

Perez stole over 400 game-worn jerseys and memorabilia from a secured room, selling more than 100 items for approximately $1.9 million online, often at undervalued prices.

Law enforcement recovered nearly 300 additional stolen game-worn jerseys and memorabilia from Perez’s residence, confirming the extensive nature of the scheme.

Laws and Precedent

The defendant pleaded guilty in the Southern District of Florida to federal charges of transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce, a crime typically prosecuted under federal law (such as 18 U.S.C. § 2314) that addresses the interstate movement of stolen property. This guilty plea is a formal admission of culpability, often part of a plea agreement to resolve a case without a trial, and underscores the federal jurisdiction over crimes that cross state lines.

A former Miami Heat security officer, Marcos Tomas Perez, pleaded guilty today in the Southern District of Florida to charges of transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce. Perez, 62, admitted to stealing hundreds of game-worn jerseys and other valuable memorabilia belonging to the Miami Heat, which he then sold to online brokers for millions of dollars.

Background of the Accused

Perez, a 25-year retired veteran of the City of Miami Police Department, served as a security officer for the Miami Heat from 2016 to 2021. He later continued his security role with the NBA from 2022 to 2025. During his tenure, he worked game-day security at the Kaseya Center, which granted him access to a secured equipment room.

Theft and Sales Scheme

This secured room housed hundreds of game-worn jerseys and other valuable memorabilia, originally intended for a future Miami Heat museum. Over several years, Perez exploited his access, systematically stealing more than 400 items. He subsequently sold these stolen goods through various online marketplaces.

Over a three-and-a-half-year period, Perez sold more than 100 stolen items for approximately $1.9 million, shipping them across state lines. These transactions often occurred at prices significantly below their true market value.

Undervalued Memorabilia

A striking example of the undervaluation involved a game-worn LeBron James Miami Heat NBA Finals jersey. Perez sold this jersey for about $100,000, yet the same item was later auctioned by Sotheby’s for a staggering $3.7 million.

Recovery of Stolen Goods

Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Perez’s residence on April 3, successfully recovering nearly 300 additional stolen game-worn jerseys and memorabilia. The Miami Heat subsequently confirmed that these items had been stolen from their facility.

Perez’s plea highlights a significant breach of trust by a long-serving employee, involving the theft and interstate sale of high-value sports collectibles. The recovery of hundreds of items underscores the extensive nature of the scheme and the immense value placed on such unique pieces of sports history.