Inside the Heist: How a Former Heat Security Officer Swiped Million-Dollar Jerseys Right Under Their Noses

One such item was a jersey that LeBron James wore in Game 7 of the 2013 NBA Finals, during which James and the Heat defeated the San Antonio Spurs 95-88 to win their second consecutive championship. After Perez allegedly sold the jersey for around 0,000, it was sold in an online auction for .7 million in 2023.Retired Miami police officer Marcos Tomas Perez appeared Tuesday at U.S. Superior Court for the Southern District of Florida and issued a guilty plea to transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce, after pleading not guilty to the felony count at an initial hearing earlier this month.Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.According to a news release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida and the Miami field office of the FBI, Perez has admitted to stealing hundreds of game-worn jerseys and other memorabilia worth millions of dollars belonging to the Heat and selling them to online brokers.Perez’s attorney, Robert Buschel, told NBC6 in Florida after Tuesday’s hearing that Perez is “depressed, naturally, but he accepts responsibility for his behavior and we’re gonna work through this issue in his life.”This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.Perez, 62, faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of 0,000. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 31.According to court documents, other stolen items included jerseys signed by former Heat stars Dwyane Wade, Jimmy Butler, Chris Bosh, Alonzo Mourning and Shaquille O’Neal, as well as team jackets, game-worn sneakers and more.”I hope that the judge will consider all factors in his life and his history as a good person,” Buschel said. “He was an exemplary police officer in the city of Miami, he’s been retired for close to 10 years. This was an unfortunate set of decisions that he made and he’s going to accept responsibility for that.”It’s wild how a behind-the-scenes role can spiral into one of the most jaw-dropping sports scandals in recent memory. Imagine a trusted Miami Heat security officer, once sworn to protect priceless memorabilia, turning into the very person responsible for pilfering items that could make any fan’s head spin. We’re talking jerseys worn by legends like LeBron James during the 2013 NBA Finals, along with gear from other Heat icons — all disappearing and showing up for sale online, fetching millions. Hearing about Marcos Tomas Perez’s guilty plea, I can’t help but feel a mix of disbelief and disappointment — especially knowing this betrayal came from someone with a decorated past in law enforcement. The fallout? Potentially a decade behind bars and a hefty fine. This isn’t just theft; it’s a cautionary tale about trust, legacy, and the hidden battles within the world of professional sports. LEARN MOREA former Miami Heat security officer has pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge in connection to stealing team memorabilia worth millions of dollars and selling the items to online brokers.Buschel declined to comment any further when reached by The Times via email Wednesday.