Marine corporal charged with stealing and selling ammo, weapons from California's Camp Pendleton

A Marine corporal ammunition specialist has been charged with stealing and selling ammo and weapons from California's Camp Pendleton, according to court documents.

The charges against Marine Cpl. Andrew Paul Amarillas  including conspiracy to commit theft and embezzlement of government property and possession and sale of stolen ammunition. Amarillas pleaded not guilty Thursday in a federal court in Phoenix and is being held in custody pending trial,  according to the Associated Press, 

Federal prosecutors said Amarillas used his technical specialist position at the School of Infantry West to steal at least one Javelin missile system, thousands of rounds of military-grade ammunition, and other weapons-related material from February 2022 to November 2025.

Amarillas is also accused of transporting the stolen weapons and ammo to his home state of Arizona, where he sold them to unnamed co-conspirators, who then resold the equipment to others. Some, but not all, of the stolen weapons and ammo were recovered.

"[I] have 2 launchers that [I] think you'd like, if you want to take a look tomorrow," Amarillas allegedly texted to a co-conspirator, according to the criminal complaint. The texts also included photos, including one of a portable Javelin missile system with a serial number that matched one Amarillas had signed out from Camp Pendleton, per the complaint.

Amarillas' lawyer did not respond to the wire service's request for comment.