A man armed with a firearm allegedly conducted surveillance at President Trump’s golf club in Southern California ahead of the commander in chief’s scheduled visit, with authorities later saying the arrest led them to an illegal rifle, body armor and a cache of weapons.
Jeanine John Taele, 38, of Downey, has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle following his Saturday arrest at Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles in Rancho Palos Verdes.
The felony charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in federal prison.
According to court documents, federal agents were carrying out security sweeps before Trump’s Aug. 4 visit when they saw Taele at the course on July 31, walking the property with an earpiece while photographing and recording security-planning operations.
Taele came back to the golf club on Saturday, leading staff members to contact law enforcement.
Investigators allege he then approached federal agents and falsely stated that he worked for the State Department and had been assigned to a security detail.
Taele also allegedly acknowledged that a loaded firearm was inside his pickup truck, which was parked on the club property.
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Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies responded and discovered Taele had an outstanding El Segundo warrant tied to a robbery case.
Deputies found a 16-round magazine loaded with hollow-point ammunition in his pocket.
A search of his pickup truck turned up a loaded 9mm pistol with a round chambered, another loaded magazine filled with hollow-point ammunition, binoculars and a badge labeled “security protection agent.”
Investigators then searched Taele’s home Sunday, where they seized an illegally modified AR-platform rifle that had never been registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, along with additional firearms, ammunition, high-capacity magazines, body armor, an earpiece, two radio signal devices and notebooks containing concerning statements.
“While we are still investigating the motives of this individual, we are thankful he was apprehended before the President’s visit,” First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said. “Federal and local law enforcement stepped in early and prevented what could have been a dangerous situation from occurring.”
FBI Los Angeles Assistant Director in Charge Patrick Grandy said Taele’s actions “raised serious red flags” just days before Trump’s arrival.
“There is no room for error, particularly in light of previous attempts on President Trump’s life,” Grandy said.
Essayli later wrote on X that investigators were still working to determine Taele’s motives but praised the FBI, US Secret Service, ATF and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for intervening before the president’s visit and preventing “a potentially dangerous situation.”
Taele is also facing firearms-related charges and a 2025 robbery case in Los Angeles Superior Court, where he was granted $250,000 bail.
He is expected to make his initial appearance in federal court after being transferred into federal custody.
The FBI, US Secret Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the case.
A federal criminal complaint contains allegations only.
Taele is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
