Marcos Thomas Perez, a previous staff member of the Miami Heat, has admitted guilt to the accusation of transporting and transferring pilfered merchandise across state borders, as reported by The Associated Press. He was initially contesting the charges. Perez, aged 62, reportedly made approximately $1.9 million by vending over 100 stolen goods from the Heat, including game-used uniforms and other memorabilia, commonly marketed to online sellers at discounted rates.
The sentencing for Perez is scheduled for October 31. He could potentially be sentenced to a decade behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, and a monetary penalty reaching $250,000.
Perez’s employment history includes working as a security guard for the Heat between 2016 and 2021 and also served as a security employee for the NBA spanning from 2022 to 2025. His role as a security officer during game days enabled him to gain entry into a restricted equipment room within Kaseya Center, from where he procured items intended for display in a forthcoming team museum by the Heat.
Former Miami Heat personnel accused of trading stolen team memorabilia worth millions
Will Backus
Beyond the sale of more than 100 items, Perez is also accused of stealing over 400 uniforms used in games. This encompassed a LeBron James uniform donned in an NBA Finals match, which he purportedly sold for approximately $100,000. This particular jersey was later auctioned off for an amount exceeding $3 million.
Law enforcement officers seized roughly 300 items from Perez’s dwelling while executing a search warrant during April. The Heat affirmed that these items had been pilfered from their premises.
According to defense attorney Robert Buschel, “[Perez] is feeling down, as expected, but he’s taking accountability for his actions, and we plan to tackle this issue impacting his life.”
Perez’s background includes a 25-year tenure as a member of the Miami Police Department, where he served from November 1992 until April 2016 before retiring.
Buschel conveyed, “I’m optimistic that the judge will weigh all facets of his life and his reputation as an upright individual. He distinguished himself as a police officer within the City of Miami, and it’s been nearly ten years since his retirement. These unfortunate choices were made by him, and he’s poised to bear the consequences.”
