U.S. Marine Charged in Major Theft from Camp Pendleton

A U.S. Marine corporal stationed at Camp Pendleton is currently facing federal charges related to the alleged theft and resale of military weaponry and ammunition. Court documents reveal accusations that the Marine stole multiple shoulder-fired rocket launchers and tens of thousands of rounds of military-grade ammunition.

The accused corporal allegedly sold these stolen military assets to co-conspirators located in his home state of Arizona. While only the corporal is currently facing charges, prosecutors have filed documents suggesting a wider criminal conspiracy involving licensed gun dealers in Arizona.

Details of the Alleged Conspiracy

Prosecutors assert that the defendant, Cpl. Andrew Paul Amarillas, stole and sold these weapons "to enrich himself" rather than serving his country faithfully. Amarillas joined the Marine Corps in 2021 and served as an ammunition technician specialist at Camp Pendleton’s School of Infantry – West from February 2022 until January 2026.

An assistant U.S. attorney in Arizona noted in a court filing last Thursday that the defendant "stole and sold large volumes of U.S. military ammunition seemingly with the help of others at Camp Pendleton." The scope of the alleged diversion is substantial, with filings suggesting up to 2 million rounds of ammunition may have been diverted after shipment from the Utah factory.

Stolen Weaponry and Ammunition Types

Cpl. Amarillas was indicted earlier this month by a federal grand jury in Arizona on multiple counts, including conspiracy to commit theft and embezzlement of government property. The charges specifically name the theft and sale of at least one Javelin Weapon System, an anti-tank shoulder-fired guided missile launcher.

Prosecutors stated that text messages prove Amarillas stole and sold other similar weapons. One specific rocket launcher signed out by the defendant in August 2024 was later purchased by undercover agents from an Arizona company.

High-Powered Ammunition Trafficking

The Marine is also accused of stealing and selling tens of thousands of rounds of high-powered rifle ammunition deemed too lethal for public possession. This includes M855A1 Enhanced Performance Rounds, which are 5.56 mm rounds the public cannot legally acquire under any circumstances.

Undercover federal agents reportedly purchased thousands of these rounds, as well as M855 non-enhanced rounds, on multiple occasions in 2024 and 2025, including at Arizona gun shows. Agents were able to trace nearly all the ammunition back to Camp Pendleton, specifically the School of Infantry – West.

Evidence and Legal Proceedings

Court documents indicate that text messages between Amarillas and his co-conspirators detailed planning for the conspiracy, which allegedly began as early as February 2022. After agents raided the Arizona home of one co-conspirator, Amarillas allegedly destroyed his own phone to conceal his involvement.

Verification using Army records showed that lot numbers on some stolen ammunition purchased by agents matched ammunition manufactured in Utah and sent to Camp Pendleton. However, Marine Corps records failed to show these lots were ever issued to the School of Infantry West, leaving about 2 million rounds of M855 unaccounted for.

Amarillas pleaded not guilty last week during a hearing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. Federal agents arrested him on March 5 while he was attending a training course in Virginia, preparing for deployment to the U.S. Embassy in Myanmar. A judge has ordered Amarillas to remain in custody, where he faces up to five years for the conspiracy charge and up to 10 years for two additional counts if convicted.