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Marine corporal accused of stealing and selling weapons from California’s Camp Pendleton
Andrew Paul Amarillas faces federal charges for a four-year scheme stealing a missile and 25,000 rounds of ammunition for resale, with a third of the ammo recovered, prosecutors said.
- On Monday, Corporal Andrew Paul Amarillas, a 23-year-old ammunition technician specialist, was indicted for allegedly stealing a Javelin Missile System and military-grade ammunition from Camp Pendleton and selling them in Arizona.
- Prosecutors allege Amarillas used his position at the School of Infantry West to steal military property between February 2022 and November 2025, then transported the weapons to Arizona to sell to unnamed co-conspirators.
- Court documents reveal investigators traced stolen equipment via serial numbers and digital evidence, including text messages where Amarillas was saved as 'Ammo Andrew' in contacts, claiming he had '2 launchers that think you'd like.'
- Federal agents arrested Amarillas in Virginia on March 5, 2026; he pleaded not guilty Thursday in a Phoenix federal courthouse and remains in custody, with a judge citing flight risk.
- The theft exposes security gaps at Camp Pendleton, echoing a 2021 explosives disappearance at Twentynine Palms and raising concerns about how non-demilitarized weapons reach the black market.
37 Articles
37 Articles
Marine corporal charged with stealing and selling a Javelin missile
A Marine previously assigned to Camp Pendleton, California, is accused of stealing at least one Javelin anti-tank missile system and 5.56mm ammunition from the base and selling them in Arizona, court records show. Cpl. Andrew Paul Amarillas, 23, has been indicted in connection with what prosecutors allege was a nearly four-year-long scheme to steal military equipment, according to court records. At the time of his March 5 arrest, he was training…
‘Just got some javs’: U.S. Marine allegedly steals anti-tank arsenal to sell on American streets
A federal grand jury in Arizona has indicted a United States Marine for allegedly stealing a Javelin Missile System and other munitions to sell on the streets of the state. Cpl. Andrew Paul Amarillas, 23, is accused of stealing military ammunition and a Javelin anti-tank missile system from Marine…
Camp Pendleton Marine charged with stealing weapons, ammunition
The entrance to Marine Corps base Camp Pendleton in Oceanside. (File photo by Gregory Bull/Associated Press) A U.S. Marine who was an ammunition specialist at California’s Camp Pendleton is charged with stealing ammo and weapons, including a shoulder-fired missile system, and conspiring to sell them in Arizona, according to court documents. Cpl. Andrew Paul Amarillas pleaded not guilty last Thursday in Phoenix to multiple charges including cons…
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