By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• Former Miami Police Department officer Marcos Thomas Perez was sentenced to three years in federal prison for stealing and selling NBA jerseys and memorabilia.
• Perez used his access as a security employee for the Miami Heat and the NBA to remove game-worn items from a secured facility.
• Federal investigators recovered hundreds of stolen jerseys, including high-value items sold through online marketplaces.
• The case involved interstate transportation of stolen goods and resulted in nearly $1.9 million in restitution.
• The sentencing concludes a federal investigation into the long-running theft scheme.
MIAMI, FL — A former Miami Police Department officer was sentenced to three years in federal prison after admitting to stealing and selling hundreds of NBA jerseys and pieces of memorabilia, according to court records.
Marcos Thomas Perez, 62, was sentenced in U.S. District Court after pleading guilty to transporting and transferring stolen goods in interstate commerce. Prosecutors said Perez carried out the thefts over several years while working as a security employee for the Miami Heat and later for the NBA.
Federal authorities said Perez had authorized access to a secured equipment room used to store game-worn jerseys and other memorabilia. Investigators determined he removed more than 400 items and sold at least 100 of them through online platforms, generating approximately $1.9 million in proceeds.
During a search conducted by federal agents, nearly 300 stolen items were recovered. Among the stolen memorabilia was a Miami Heat jersey worn by LeBron James during the NBA Finals, which was later resold at auction for millions of dollars, according to court documents.
In addition to the prison sentence, Perez was ordered to pay nearly $1.9 million in restitution and a $10,000 fine. No additional charges have been announced, and the case has been closed following sentencing.