A former security worker for the Miami Heat was charged in federal court Tuesday with selling stolen jerseys and other memorabilia from the Kaseya Center, the arena where the <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/nba/”>NBA team plays. The suspect allegedly resold these items nationwide, earning as much as $2 million by marketing stolen goods online.
Marcos Thomas Perez, 62, from Miami, is accused of removing team property from the arena, storing it at his home, and then shipping it to buyers across the country. The sales reportedly continued over several years, involving many valuable pieces taken without authorization.
Authorities from the Southern District of Florida and the FBI in Miami executed a search warrant at Perez’s residence on April 3, recovering nearly 300 game-worn jerseys and other items. The Miami Heat confirmed these valuables were stolen from their facilities.
Rapid Sales Strategy and Key High-Value Jerseys
The injunction reveals Perez sold merchandise primarily through online intermediaries, often pricing items low to move inventory swiftly.
“For at least three years the defendant sold more than 100 stolen items worth approximately $2 million and shipped them across state lines,”
officials stated.
Among the stolen goods, a notable Miami Heat jersey worn by LeBron James during the NBA Finals was sold for about $100,000 by Perez. The same jersey later fetched $3.7 million at a Sotheby’s auction, highlighting the significant disparity between Perez’s sale price and the item’s true market value.
Perez had a long history with law enforcement and NBA security, having served 25 years with the Miami Police Department before joining the Heat’s security staff from 2016 to 2021. From 2022 until 2025, he was employed by the NBA directly as part of the game day security team at the Kaseya Center.
Access to Secure Areas Enabled Large-Scale Thefts
While working for the Miami Heat, Perez was among the select few granted entry to a locked equipment room containing memorabilia designated for a future team museum. Records and investigations indicate he stole over 400 game-worn jerseys and other valuable goods from this secure storage.
This extensive breach of trust allowed Perez to amass and distribute a significant quantity of stolen items, affecting the franchise’s collection and its plans for preserving team history.