A man who was allegedly carrying ammunition in his pocket and a loaded gun in his vehicle at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes days ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit to the resort was being held without bail Wednesday awaiting a court appearance on a federal weapons charge.
A complaint filed by the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday charged Jeanine John Taele, 38, of Downey, with possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle, a felony that carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
“While we are still investigating the motives of this individual, we are thankful he was apprehended before the president’s visit,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement. `Federal and local law enforcement stepped in early and prevented what could have been a dangerous situation from occurring. This investigation remains ongoing.”
Trump spoke at the golf club Tuesday night during a Republican National Committee fundraiser.
Taele had been scheduled to appear at a bond hearing in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday afternoon, but the hearing was abruptly canceled for unknown reasons. No new date was set.
Sheriff’s deputies were called to the Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes around 3:30 p.m. Sunday by federal agents who spotted a “suspicious individual” on the property, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
“The individual was observed walking throughout the golf course grounds taking photographs and videos and appearing to monitor security- planning activities,” sheriff’s officials said in a statement.
During his arrest, Taele was found to be carrying hollow-point ammunition in his pocket and a loaded weapon in his vehicle. A subsequent search of his home found additional weapons, body armor, high-capacity ammunition magazines and “multiple notebooks containing concerning statements,” sheriff’s officials said.
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charged Taele with one felony count each of manufacturing, importing, keeping for sale, giving or receiving a large-capacity magazine; and possession of a short-barreled rifle or shotgun; along with a felony count of second-degree robbery that allegedly occurred in November 2025. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle.
Taele pleaded not guilty Tuesday afternoon, with his bail set at $250,000 pending his next appearance in state court Aug. 26 in Torrance, according to the District Attorney’s Office. However, that bail amount was set prior to the formal filing of the federal charge.
He was ordered to stay away from the golf course and to remain in California and not to possess any weapons, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Given the proximity of his arrest to Trump’s planned visit, Taele also caught the attention of federal authorities.
“Mr. Taele’s troubling behavior at the president’s public golf course merely days before the president was expected to arrive raised serious red flags for law enforcement and led to the discovery of an unregistered firearm, a loaded weapon, as well as additional items of concern,” added Patrick Grandy, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.
“There is no room for error, particularly in light of previous attempts on President Trump’s life, and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, working with our partners at the U.S. Secret Service, the ATF, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, will investigate this case thoroughly,” Grandy said.
According to an affidavit filed with the federal complaint against Taele, federal agents on Friday conducted a security assessment at Trump National Golf Club in advance of Trump’s visit.
During that security assessment, federal agents saw a suspicious individual later identified as Taele at the club. Taele was seen walking throughout the golf course at Trump Golf Club, was wearing an earpiece, and took photographs and filmed videos of federal agents’ security-planning activities. Taele later left the area and drove away.
He returned to the club Sunday, according to the affidavit. Golf course staff notified federal agents, who were continuing their security assessment. Taele approached the federal agents and stated that he was employed by the State Department and was at the location for security detail, the affidavit alleged. Taele admitted to having a loaded firearm in his car, which was parked in the Trump Golf Club parking lot.
Federal agents contacted the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and sheriff’s deputies arrived at the club, leading to his arrest. Deputies also learned that Taele was wanted in connection with a robbery case out of El Segundo.
Citing military records, the California Post reported Wednesday that Taele is a decorated former Marine, reaching the rank of corporal while serving at Camp Pendleton in San Diego County. According to the Post, he served from March 2008 through March 2016 and served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also received various recognitions, including two Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, a National Defense Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, an Iraq Campaign Medal and Afghanistan Campaign Medal, along with two Sea Service Deployment Ribbons and the NATO International Security Assistance Force Medal.
An Instagram account believed to be Taele’s describes him as a Marine Corps veteran, as well as a “survivor of child trafficking and child abuse.”