A man arrested for allegedly taking photos and videos at a Rancho Palos Verdes golf club owned by President Donald Trump was charged in a federal criminal complaint with a firearm offense and was expected to make an initial court appearance Wednesday.

A federal complaint filed by the United States 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," said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. `Federal and local law enforcement stepped in early and prevented what could have been a dangerous situation from occurring. This investigation remains ongoing.

Los Angeles County Jail records showed as of Wednesday morning that Taele was being held without bail.

Taele is expected to make an appearance at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in federal court in Los Angeles for a bond hearing, according to a spokesman in Essayli's office.

Taele had been arrested on Sunday for allegedly taking photos and videos at the Trump National Golf Club and "appearing to monitor security- planning activities," according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

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," according to the news statement.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office filed against Taele on Tuesday 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.

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 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.

"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.

Trump spoke at the Republican National Committee fundraiser at the golf club Tuesday night.

According to an affidavit filed with the complaint, on July 31, federal agents conducted a security assessment at Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles in Rancho Palos Verdes taken in advance of a visit to the club by President Donald J. Trump on Tuesday.

During this 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.

On Sunday he returned to Trump Golf Club. 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. Taele further 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. LASD deputies learned that Taele was wanted in connection with a robbery case out of El Segundo.

Taele pleaded not guilty, with his bail set at $250,000 pending his next appearance Aug. 26 in a Torrance courtroom, 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.

Downey man charged after arrest at Trump golf club