Marcos Thomas Perez, a 62-year-old former private security guard for the Miami Heat, is looking at devastating legal repercussions. He faces federal charges of interstate transportation and transfer of stolen goods. A Miami resident, who served as an NBA contract security worker from 2022-2025, allegedly sold more than 100 stolen items totaling a value of at least $270,000. These unlawful sales amounted to nearly $2 million in only three years.
Prior to that engagement, from 2016 to 2021 Perez served as Chief Innovation Officer for the Miami Heat. He was responsible for game-day security at the Kaseya Center. Prior to his tenure with the Heat, he was a dedicated member of the Miami Police Department for 25 years. His decades of experience in a variety of security roles seems to have helped him succeed in planning out an elaborate theft and resale scheme.
According to court documents, Perez allegedly unlawfully entered the team’s equipment room. He defrauded more than 400 game-worn jerseys including an extensive collection of other valuable memorabilia. Most famously, he auctioned the Miami Heat jersey worn by NBA superstar LeBron James during the Finals for about $100,000. This very jersey would go on to sell for $3.7 million at a Sotheby’s auction, underscoring the incredible value of the items stolen.
The probe into Perez’s illicit activity eventually led to a search warrant that was carried out at his residence on April 3. During the FBI raid, law enforcement officials recovered about 300 stolen game-worn jerseys and memorabilia. The products were allegedly transported interstate at low costs and resold to unrelated online entities.
The ongoing legal battle against Perez has brought much needed attention to security measures in professional sports teams and organizations. We know that experts advise that individuals in sensitive positions should pass rigorous background checks. This is a step toward ensuring similar tragedies don’t happen in the future.
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