A Marine corporal has been arrested and charged with stealing weapons, including a Javelin missile system and ammunition, from his base in Southern California.
Cpl. Andrew Paul Amarillas, 23, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to charges of possession and sale of stolen ammunition and theft of government property.
According to court documents filed last week in Federal District Court in Arizona, Corporal Amarillas was an ammunition technical specialist assigned to handle and transport weapons and ammunition at Camp Pendleton near San Diego.
From 2022 to 2025, Corporal Amarillas stole and then sold weapons and ammunition to people who resold them, the indictment said. Federal prosecutors say Corporal Amarillas stole and sold a Javelin missile system, a portable missile launcher designed for use primarily against tanks, among other weapons, according to the indictment. He is also accused of taking ammunition and other military property. The missile launcher ended up in the hands of another buyer before being seized by law enforcement, the indictment said.
Corporal Amarillas remains in custody. A lawyer listed for him in court documents did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The indictment was earlier reported by the Arizona’s Family news site.
The indictment includes text messages that prosecutors say Corporal Amarillas exchanged with accomplices he sold the weapons to, including photographs. One message cited in the indictment reads: “Have two launchers that think you’d like if you want to take a look tomorrow.” Another includes an offer to sell 30,000 rounds of ammunition for $5,000.
Undercover agents eventually purchased some of the equipment from a firearms dealer for a price that the indictment lists as more than $1,000. Law enforcement officers seized some of the other weaponry that Corporal Amarillas is accused of taking, though not all of the stolen equipment is accounted for, according to the indictment.
Victor Mather, who has been a reporter and editor at The Times for 25 years, covers sports and breaking news.
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