LeBron James’ jersey from the 2013 NBA finals is just one of hundreds of game-worn shirts and other valuables that a former Miami Heat security officer has been accused of stealing.
Former Miami Heat security officer Marcus Thomas Perez allegedly sold the jersey James wore in Game 7 of the finals for around $100,000; it then fetched the tidy sum of $3.7million when sold at an online auction in 2023.
Perez, a 62-year-old retired Miami police officer, has pleaded not guilty to the charge of transporting and transferring stolen goods when he worked on game-day security detail for the Heat from 2016-2021.
During a search of Perez’s home in April, police “seized nearly 300 additional stolen game-worn jerseys and memorabilia,” which the Heat confirmed had been stolen from their facility.
“During his employment, Perez accessed the equipment room multiple times to steal over 400 game-worn jerseys and other items, which he then sold to various online marketplaces.
“Over a three-year period, Perez sold over 100 stolen items for approximately $2 million and shipped them across state lines, often for prices well below their market value.”
Perez, a 62-year-old retired Miami police officer, has pleaded not guilty to the charge of transporting and transferring stolen goods when he worked on game-day security detail for the Heat from 2016-2021.
Perez appeared in federal court in Miami on August 5 and could face up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.
The jerseys and memorabilia was due to be displayed in the Heat’s Museum at the Kaseya Center, but instead prosecutors allege, Perez passed on the jersey to online brokers with big discounts, allowing him to collecting roughly $2 million in the process.
James’ jersey’s value increased as his time at the Miami Heat included two championships in 2012 and 2013, making it incredibly appealing to collectors.
The FBI investigation continues, though neither Perez’s attorney nor Heat representatives have commented publicly.
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