Authorities say the armed suspect visited the California property twice and claimed to be working on a government security detail.
LOS ANGELES, CA — A California man arrested at President Donald Trump’s Los Angeles-area golf course visited the property twice while federal agents prepared for Trump’s arrival, wore an earpiece and recorded security activity, according to a federal criminal complaint.
Jeanine John Taele, 38, of Downey, faces a federal charge of possessing an unregistered short-barreled rifle. Authorities allege that ammunition was found in his pocket and a loaded pistol was discovered in his pickup truck at Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles in Rancho Palos Verdes. Investigators later searched his home and seized additional firearms, body armor, large-capacity magazines, communications equipment and notebooks containing statements officials described as concerning. Authorities have not publicly identified a motive or disclosed the contents of the notebooks.
Federal agents first noticed Taele on July 31 as they conducted a security assessment before Trump’s planned Aug. 4 visit, prosecutors said. The complaint alleges that Taele walked through areas of the golf course wearing an earpiece and took photographs and videos of agents engaged in security-planning activities. He left the property but returned Aug. 2, two days before Trump was scheduled to attend a fundraising dinner at the club.
When Taele returned, golf course employees notified federal agents who were continuing preparations at the property, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. Prosecutors allege that Taele approached the agents and claimed he worked for the State Department and had been assigned to a security detail. Authorities have not found evidence supporting that claim. Taele also told agents that he had a loaded firearm in his vehicle, prosecutors said.
Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies were called to the golf club and learned that Taele was wanted in connection with a separate robbery investigation in El Segundo, according to federal authorities. Deputies detained him and allegedly found a 16-round magazine containing hollow-point ammunition in his pants pocket. Investigators searching his pickup truck said they recovered a loaded 9mm pistol, another loaded magazine, binoculars and a badge marked “security protection agent.”
A court-authorized search of Taele’s Downey residence on Aug. 3 produced an illegally modified AR-platform rifle, other firearms, body armor, high-capacity magazines, an earpiece and two radio-signal devices, prosecutors said. The short-barreled rifle was not registered as required under federal law, according to the criminal complaint. Possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle is a felony punishable by as many as 10 years in federal prison, though any sentence would be determined by a judge if Taele is convicted.
Taele also faces state charges connected to the golf course arrest. He pleaded not guilty in state court, and bail was set at $250,000, according to reporting based on court and booking records. A judge ordered him to stay away from the golf club and firearms. His planned initial appearance in federal court Wednesday was canceled because he remained in state custody at a downtown Los Angeles jail.
Military records reviewed by news organizations show that Taele served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2008 to 2016 and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. His service included good-conduct commendations. Authorities have not said whether his military background had any connection to his alleged activity at the golf course.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are investigating. Federal officials said the timing and nature of Taele’s alleged conduct raised serious security concerns, but they have not accused him of attempting to harm Trump or announced charges involving a threat against the president.
Trump visited the Rancho Palos Verdes club as scheduled Aug. 4. No security incident was reported during the event. Taele remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty, and authorities said the investigation into his conduct, possible motive and the materials seized from his home is continuing.
Author note: Last updated Aug. 6, 2026.