Ex-Miami Heat Guard Pleads Guilty to $2M Memorabilia Theft

Marcos Thomas Perez, a retired Miami police officer and former Miami Heat security employee, pleaded guilty to stealing over 400 game-worn jerseys and other memorabilia valued in the millions from the Miami Heat. Perez exploited his access to a secured equipment room at the Kaseya Center, where items intended for a future team museum were stored, and sold more than 100 stolen pieces online across state lines for approximately $1.9 to $2 million, often below market value. Notably, he sold a LeBron James NBA Finals jersey for about $100,000 that later sold at Sotheby's for $3.7 million. A search of Perez's home recovered nearly 300 additional stolen items, confirming the extent of the theft. Perez faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, with sentencing scheduled for October 31. This case has been described as one of the largest memorabilia heists in U.S. sports history.