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Miami, FL - A former Miami Police Department officer and NBA security employee has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the theft of hundreds of Miami Heat game-worn jerseys and memorabilia valued at millions of dollars.
Marcos Thomas Perez, 62, changed his plea from not guilty to guilty Tuesday in federal court on charges of transporting and transferring stolen goods across state lines.
He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, three years of probation, and fines up to $250,000.
His sentencing is scheduled for October 31st.
Perez worked for the Miami Police Department from 1992 to 2016 and later for the Miami Heat from 2016 to 2021.
He also served as an NBA security employee from 2022 to 2025.
Authorities say he allegedly accessed a secured equipment room at Kaseya Center multiple times, taking over 400 game-worn jerseys and other items intended for a future team museum.
Over a three-year period, Perez allegedly sold more than 100 stolen items for approximately $2 million, often below market value.
Prosecutors say one LeBron James game-worn Miami Heat NBA Finals jersey sold for $100,000 but later fetched $3.7 million at a Sotheby’s auction.
Federal agents executed a search warrant at Perez’s home in April, recovering nearly 300 additional stolen items, which the Miami Heat confirmed had been taken from their facility.
All items in Perez’s possession have been confiscated by the FBI, and authorities are requesting the return of other stolen memorabilia sold to collectors.
The theft was first reported by NBA insider Amin Elhassan, who described it as one of the largest memorabilia heists in U.S. sports history.