Former Miami Heat Security Officer Accused of Stealing Over 400 Items in Multi-Million Dollar Heist

A security officer formerly employed by the Miami Heat faces charges related to a large-scale theft involving more than 400 pieces of game-worn memorabilia, including a jersey worn by LeBron James that sold for $3.7 million.

Prosecutors allege that Marcos Thomas Perez, 62, who worked for the Heat from 2016 to 2021 and later for the NBA, exploited his trusted position to access a secure equipment room at the Heat’s home arena. Inside, he stole numerous jerseys and memorabilia intended for a yet-to-be-built museum, according to federal authorities.

LeBron James' game-worn jersey from the 2013 NBA Finals — LeBron James’ game-worn jersey from Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals, which sold at auction for $3.7 million, was allegedly stolen in a years-long heist conducted by the former security staffer.

The DOJ reports that Perez repeatedly accessed the secure room during his employment, stealing over 400 jerseys and memorabilia. He sold some items online, including a James jersey sold for $100,000, which later fetched $3.7 million at auction. The jersey was from the 2013 NBA Finals, where James led the Heat to victory over the San Antonio Spurs, earning Finals MVP honors. At auction, it ranked as the third-highest price ever for a game-worn jersey, following Michael Jordan and Diego Maradona.

Further investigations led to a search of Perez’s residence in April, uncovering nearly 300 other stolen jerseys and memorabilia. The Heat confirmed that these items were stolen from their facilities. Authorities are continuing to investigate the case, and it remains unclear what penalties Perez faces if convicted. The team has not publicly commented on the allegations.