Marine corporal accused of stealing and selling weapons from California’s Camp Pendleton
Marine Corporal Faces Theft and Sale of Weapons from Camp Pendleton
Charges and Plea
Phoenix authorities report that a U.S. Marine, assigned as an ammunition specialist at California’s Camp Pendleton, has been charged with embezzling military equipment and conspiring to sell it. Cpl. Andrew Paul Amarillas recently entered a not guilty plea to several allegations, including theft conspiracy and possession of stolen ammunition. A judge has mandated his detention until trial proceedings commence.
Stolen Materials
Federal prosecutors allege Amarillas, while serving as a technical specialist at the School of Infantry West, pilfered a Javelin missile system, thousands of military-grade rounds, and other weapons components between February 2022 and November 2025. The stolen goods were reportedly transported to Arizona, where they were sold to unnamed co-conspirators. These intermediaries are said to have further distributed the equipment to other buyers.
Court records indicate that not all of the stolen weapons and ammunition have been retrieved. A co-conspirator’s cellphone contained a saved number linked to Amarillas under the moniker “Andrew Ammo.” In August, Amarillas sent a message to a co-conspirator stating,
“I have 2 launchers that I think you’d like, if you want to take a look tomorrow,”
according to the criminal complaint. The messages also featured images, such as one showing a portable Javelin missile with a serial number matching one Amarillas had accessed at a San Diego-based military installation.
Undercover Purchases
Prosecutors claim some ammunition was bought by undercover agents from co-conspirators. The complaint filed in Arizona’s U.S. District Court explains that the conspiracy’s aim was to siphon military property and sell it on the black market for profit.
Investigation Status
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) has not provided remarks on the Amarillas case, though it confirmed the probe is still active. Acting Deputy Assistant Director Jeff Houston stated in an email, “NCIS and our partners remain committed to thoroughly and aggressively investigating any allegation involving the theft of military weapons and munitions to be sold on the black market.”
Previous Incident
Earlier in 2021, explosives went missing from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, a Southern California desert facility. At that time, NCIS noted it was examining the disappearance but withheld specific details.
