Florida man man arrested after lying to bypass presidential security at Palm Beach International Airport

A former Marine who was dishonorably discharged and was required to register as a sex offender was arrested after breaching President Trump’s airport security by impersonating a federal law enforcement officer.

Brandon Mark Magnan, 37, lied about his identity to get past two security checkpoints at Palm Beach International Airport at around 3 p.m. on Sunday, about an hour before the president was set to depart back to Washington, D.C., according to federal prosecutors. He falsely claimed to be working security for Marine One and presented credentials showing him as a law enforcement officer of the United States Marine Corps.

The ex-Marine and an unidentified male passenger were then permitted to enter the grounds of Atlantic Aviation, which houses Marine One and Air Force One during Trump’s stays at Mar-a-Lago. However, a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy noticed he was not in USMC uniform and quickly alerted authorities. The deputy then learned from a real member of the Marine Corps helicopter squadron that Magnan’s credentials were fake “based on numerous factors.”

Magnan proceeded to claim he was a retired member of the squadron, but an FBI crime database revealed that he was dishonorably discharged for “serious offenses.” He was then detained and charged with “false personation of an officer or employee of the United States” before admitting to the crime in a recorded interview. He faces up to three years in prison and a fine of $250,000 and was released on $100,000 bond Monday.

The Naples, Florida, native was kicked out of the Marine Corps in 2010 following a number of issues, including parties at his off-base residence where he served alcohol to underage people and claims that he sexually assaulted three lance corporals. In 2011, he was convicted of abusive sexual conduct, wrongful sexual contact, forcible sodomy, and assault. He has been a registered sex offender since.