Cpl. Andrew Paul Amarillas, a Marine ammunition technician assigned to the School of Infantry‑West at Camp Pendleton, was arraigned this week in Phoenix on federal accusations that he stole a Javelin missile system and large quantities of military‑grade ammunition, then tried to resell the hardware in Arizona. Prosecutors say the alleged thefts stretch from February 2022 through November 2025 and involved at least one intact, non‑demilitarized Javelin, along with dozens of cans of M855‑series rifle rounds. A judge ordered Amarillas held in custody while he awaits trial.
The criminal complaint includes text messages in which Amarillas allegedly wrote, "Just [got] some javs and some other ones," and prosecutors say a photo in those exchanges showed a Javelin whose serial number matched one he had previously signed out. Investigators say Amarillas offered 30 cans of ammunition, roughly 25,000 rounds, to a co‑conspirator and, over a two-week stretch, stole and sold 66 cans of M855 rifle ammunition, about a third of which has since been recovered. Some of the stolen material was later purchased by undercover officers, and prosecutors say other items are still missing, according to the Los Angeles Times.
What Was Taken And Why It Matters
The Javelin is a one-man portable anti-tank missile, and its core components, the launcher, command launch unit, and missile, are tightly controlled and cannot be legally possessed by civilians. The weapon is produced by the Javelin Joint Venture between Lockheed Martin and Raytheon/RTX, and prosecutors say an intact warhead and launch tube make it a particularly dangerous item if it slips out of military inventories. According to investigators, the case also involves M855A1 and M80A1 "enhanced performance" rifle cartridges that are restricted to U.S. government sales and can be tracked by lot numbers.
How Investigators Say It Unfolded
Prosecutors allege Amarillas used his position at the School of Infantry‑West to sign out restricted gear, then hauled it to Arizona and sold it to a network of middlemen who moved the items farther along the chain. Court papers and investigators say photos and text messages tied the seized Javelin to inventory records, and undercover buys helped agents recover some of the missing ammunition. During his arraignment in Phoenix, Amarillas entered a plea of not guilty, and a judge ordered him held pending trial after prosecutors argued he was a potential flight risk who might interfere with witnesses and evidence, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Why Missing Military Gear Is A Growing Worry
Incidents involving military-grade weapons and ammunition turning up off base have drawn heightened scrutiny in recent years, spurring congressional interest and formal reviews of how often equipment disappears and how it is tracked. Reporting has identified accountability gaps that can let service issue weapons and munitions drift into the civilian market, a trend that security experts warn carries serious public safety risks, according to Military.com.
Charges And Next Steps
Amarillas was indicted by a federal grand jury in Arizona and faces federal counts tied to the alleged theft of government property and the possession and sale of military ammunition, according to court filings. Prosecutors asked a judge to keep him jailed as the case moves forward, while defense counsel and officials at Camp Pendleton had not immediately commented. The case is proceeding in U.S. District Court in Phoenix as investigators work to trace additional missing inventory, per reporting by Arizona's Family.
The investigation highlights ongoing worries about how tightly controlled military gear is tracked and accounted for, and it underscores questions that local leaders and lawmakers have pressed federal agencies to answer about safeguards and inventory systems. Federal prosecutors and investigators say they expect further recoveries and acknowledge that additional charges could follow as the probe continues.
