Marcos Thomas Perez, a former MD from Miami, age 62, pleaded guilty. He was eventually charged for the theft of game-worn jerseys and other memorabilia belonging to the Miami Heat. The plaintiff, a former security officer, was employed by the NBA franchise from 2016 through 2021, as well as with NBA security from 2022–2025. For three years, he defrauded them of a massive sum of money that hurt the organization very badly.
Perez, a retired 25-year veteran of the Miami Police Department. With his years of experience, he had a secured equipment room at his disposal, packed with valuable items reserved for a future team museum. As part of his work on the game-day security detail at the Kaseya Center, it allowed him to be in places that were usually off-limits. He seized this opportunity repeatedly and absconded with 400+ jerseys and memorabilia.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the FBI Miami coordinated an extensive multi-agency investigation into Perez. As a result of their investigation, they found he had sold over 100 of the stolen contraband, amassing nearly $1.9 million. He leveraged several online marketplaces to sell the memorabilia for rock bottom prices. This widespread distribution opened new channels for acquisition for buyers and collectors, even if they lacked knowledge of the items’ origins.
Read on as the criminals made off with more than jerseys alone. In the process, they pocketed priceless memorabilia that held deep significance for the team and its fans. Specifically by shipping these items beyond state lines, Perez violated federal law making his legal situation even more dire.
In his allocution, Perez admitted his crime. He pleaded guilty to smuggling and laundering millions of dollars’ worth of pilfered game-worn jerseys and memorabilia. His words and deed have defamed his legacy. They have further raised concerns about security measures across pro sports teams and establishments.
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