Marine Charged with Theft of Weapons from Camp Pendleton

A U.S. Marine has been accused of pilfering anti-tank weapons and ammunition from his base at Camp Pendleton in California and selling them in Arizona.

Andrew Paul Amarillas, a 23-year-old Corporal from Glendale, is currently in federal custody and has recently been indicted by a grand jury, as reported by Arizona Family.

Amarillas, who worked as an ammunition technology specialist at the Western Infantry School, allegedly stole weapons from his base. He made a court appearance in Phoenix on Thursday, where he pleaded not guilty; however, the judge ordered him to remain in custody.

The accusations suggest that Amarillas stole Javelin missile systems along with ammunition canisters, transported them to Arizona, and sold them to two unindicted co-conspirators before they were sold again to other companies.

Footage has surfaced showing soldiers utilizing what appear to be Javelin missiles. According to Lockheed Martin’s website, the Javelin Weapon System is touted as “the world’s best shoulder-fired anti-armor system,” which enables soldiers to take cover after firing.

Amarillas faces charges related to “theft of government property and possession and sale of stolen ammunition,” with the timeline spanning from February 2022 to November 2025.

Court documents reveal text exchanges between Amarillas and an alleged accomplice discussing the acquisition of the missiles, indicating a casual tone: “Just… [got] some jav and some others. I think that’s fine for tomorrow.”

As part of the investigation, undercover agents reportedly bought some of the ammunition from two companies and noted that some lot numbers matched those linked to the suspects.

On October 10, 2025, law enforcement confiscated a Javelin missile system and additional ammunition from an Arizona residence, with further seizures occurring on October 17 and November 20 of the same year. Amarillas was arrested in Virginia and later taken to Arizona.

The Marines are facing accusations of stealing “millions of pounds of ammunition” from the California base, although there are indications that not all stolen weapons have been recovered.