A new scandal is rocking the Miami Heat and the NBA as the U.S. Department of Justice revealed that Marcus Thomas Perez, a former security officer for the team, faces charges for a sprawling theft scheme involving over 400 valuable sports items, including a LeBron James jersey from Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals, sold at auction for $3.7 million.
The case, exposed by commentator Amin Elhassan on The Dan LeBatard Show, was described as “one of the largest—if not the largest—sports memorabilia thefts in U.S. history.”
According to the indictment filed in a Florida federal court, Perez, 62, faces charges of transporting stolen goods across state lines, a serious federal offense. A 25-year veteran of the Miami Police Department, Perez worked as a Heat security officer from 2016 to 2021 and later joined the NBA’s security team from 2022 to 2025.
During his tenure, he gained access to a secure equipment room at the Heat’s home arena, housing hundreds of game-worn jerseys and memorabilia intended for a future team museum. The Justice Department alleged that Perez repeatedly entered the room over years, stealing items and selling them online, often below market value, pocketing roughly $2 million from about 100 sales.
The most notable stolen item was LeBron James’ jersey from Game 7 of the 2013 Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, where James led the Heat to their second championship and earned Finals MVP.
Perez sold the jersey for $100,000, but it later fetched $3.7 million at a Sotheby’s auction, making it the third-most expensive jersey ever sold, behind Michael Jordan’s 1998 Finals jersey ($10.91 million) and Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” shirt ($9.28 million).
“This theft exploited the Heat’s trust and the legacy of its players,” Elhassan noted on air. A search of Perez’s home on April 3 uncovered nearly 300 additional jerseys and Heat memorabilia, confirmed by the team as stolen from its facilities.
The Miami Heat has not yet issued an official statement. The FBI’s investigation continues and the Justice Department has not disclosed the potential penalty Perez faces if convicted.