A U.S. Marine serving at Camp Pendleton, California, has been formally charged with stealing military weapons and ammunition and subsequently attempting to sell the stolen goods within Arizona. The accused Marine allegedly used his access at the base to facilitate the large-scale theft of government property.

Allegations Against Cpl. Andrew Paul Amarillas

Cpl. Andrew Paul Amarillas is the U.S. Marine facing these serious allegations. According to reports published by the Associated Press (AP) on March 30, Amarillas entered a plea of not guilty during a hearing in Phoenix on March 26.

Criminal Charges Filed

The charges against Amarillas are substantial and include conspiracy to commit theft, embezzlement of government property, and the possession and sale of stolen ammunition. Federal prosecutors outlined the scope of the alleged criminal activity in court documents.

Scope of the Alleged Theft

Prosecutors assert that Amarillas exploited his role as a technical specialist at the School of Infantry - West, located at Camp Pendleton. Between February 2022 and November 2025, he is accused of stealing specific high-value items.

  • One Javelin missile system.
  • Thousands of rounds of military-grade ammunition.
  • Other associated weapons-related materials.

Transportation and Sale in Arizona

The allegations further claim that Amarillas transported the stolen military equipment from California into his home state of Arizona. Once in Arizona, the material was allegedly sold to unnamed co-conspirators.

These co-conspirators then reportedly continued the distribution chain, selling the stolen items to other unidentified individuals. Authorities have confirmed that some of the stolen weapons and ammunition have since been recovered.

Official Response and Detention Status

The investigation into the theft of military assets is being taken seriously by federal authorities. Acting Deputy Assistant Director Jeff Houston provided a statement via email to the AP on March 30.

"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," stated Houston.

As a result of the charges, a judge has ordered Cpl. Amarillas to be held in custody while he awaits trial proceedings.