Firearms and Weapons Trafficking

Federal prosecutors have charged Cpl. Andrew Paul Amarillas, an ammunition technical specialist at Camp Pendleton’s School of Infantry West, with stealing at least one Javelin shoulder‑fired missile system, thousands of rounds of military‑grade ammunition and other weapons‑related materials from the California Marine base between February 2022 and November 2025. Court records say Amarillas transported the stolen gear to his home state of Arizona and conspired to sell it to unnamed co‑conspirators, who then resold it, with undercover officers later buying some of the ammunition as part of the investigation. A criminal complaint cites text messages in which a contact listed as “Andrew Ammo” offered “2 launchers” and shows a photo of a portable Javelin whose serial number matches a system Amarillas signed out from the armory. Amarillas pleaded not guilty in Phoenix last Thursday to charges including conspiracy to commit theft and embezzlement of government property and possession and sale of stolen ammunition, and a judge ordered him held pending trial. Authorities say some but not all of the stolen weapons and ammunition have been recovered, and the case follows other recent incidents of missing explosives at Marine installations that have already fueled questions online about security gaps in U.S. military stockpile controls.