A former employee of the Miami Heat faced charges in court on Tuesday related to the transportation and transfer of stolen goods across state lines. This development follows allegations that Marcos Thomas Perez, a 25-year veteran of the City of Miami Police Department and a former security officer for the team, stole millions of dollars' worth of memorabilia from the franchise over nearly a decade.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, Perez allegedly pilfered items from the Kaseya Center between 2016 and 2025. This theft reportedly included more than 400 game-worn jerseys, among other valuable memorabilia. The authorities highlighted that Perez had limited access to a secured equipment room where these items were stored, which were intended for a future museum to celebrate the history of the Miami Heat.

The U.S. Attorney's Office outlined that during a three-year period, Perez sold over 100 of these stolen items for an estimated $2 million. One notable piece was a jersey once worn by LeBron James during the NBA Finals, which Perez sold for $100,000. This particular jersey later fetched $3.7 million at a Sotheby’s auction. Furthermore, in April, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at Perez's residence, resulting in the seizure of approximately 300 stolen game-worn jerseys and memorabilia. The Miami Heat organization confirmed that these items were taken from their facilities.