Former Heat staff member sentenced to three years for trafficking in stolen memorabilia.
MIAMI — A former security officer for the Miami Heat has received a three-year federal prison sentence and has been ordered to pay nearly $1.9 million in restitution for the theft of numerous game-worn jerseys and other valuable sports memorabilia during his tenure with the team.
Marcos Thomas Perez, 62, was sentenced earlier this month, as indicated by court documents. He entered a guilty plea last August for transporting and transferring stolen goods across state lines.
The 25-year veteran of the Miami Police Department served with the Heat from 2016 to 2021 and was employed as an NBA security staff member from 2022 to 2025.
“This defendant was a former police officer who violated the public trust and took advantage of his access to our cherished local team for personal benefit,” stated U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Jason Reding Quiñones. “The Miami Heat symbolize excellence achieved through hard work and discipline in South Florida – and this behavior was contrary to that.”
Federal prosecutors and the FBI reported that Perez stole over 400 jerseys and other items from a secured equipment room and sold them through various online platforms. His access stemmed from his role in the game-day security team at the Kaseya Center. He was among a select group of employees permitted entry to a secured equipment room that housed memorabilia intended for a future team museum.
Over a span of three years, authorities claim Perez sold more than 100 stolen items for around $1.9 million, shipping them across state lines, frequently at reduced prices. They noted he sold a Heat jersey worn by LeBron James during the NBA Finals for about $100,000. That same jersey later fetched $3.7 million at a Sotheby’s auction.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Perez’s residence last April, recovering nearly 300 additional stolen game-worn jerseys and memorabilia, according to officials. The Miami Heat confirmed that the items had been taken from their facility.
