Jesse Taylor: Inside the deceptive schemes of alleged Idaho fraudster who breached Trump's inner circle

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: A former lobbyist from Idaho, Jesse Taylor, allegedly embedded himself within Donald Trump’s inner circle, engaging in a series of deceptive schemes.

Some of these schemes included fraudulent political donations, false promises of access to Trump, and even fabricating a battle with cancer to extract money from wealthy individuals in Palm Beach.

Infiltrating Donald Trump's inner circle

Taylor, 38, reportedly managed to gain proximity to Trump and his family, attending events at Mar-a-Lago and forging relationships with high-profile figures in the Trump orbit, such as Donald Trump Jr and Kimberly Guilfoyle. He presented himself as a successful political consultant living a lavish lifestyle, while simultaneously claiming to be undergoing treatment for bladder cancer.

"He was often with the family, whether he was at Mar-a-Lago, out for dinner, or at their house," one source told the Daily Mail. "He was somebody that was known to be connected to the Trumps."

"He’s the Anna Delvey of Palm Beach," another insider close to the campaign quipped, referring to the fake German heiress.  "It’s infuriating how he was able to access that inner sanctum in an election year. Although he wormed his way into our inner circle, he never had unfettered access to President Trump. Sadly, the only way to stop people like Jesse is to expose them."

However, Taylor’s facade crumbled when it was discovered that he had bounced a $25,000 donation check and was selling photo opportunities with Trump for personal gain. He allegedly offered ambassadorships in a hypothetical Trump administration to potential donors in exchange for consulting contracts, without the campaign's knowledge.

Among his alleged victims are drag racer John Odom and GOP donor Greg Mosing, both of whom claim to have been deceived by Taylor's false cancer treatment claims. Odom, infuriated by the deception, intends to pursue criminal charges against Taylor.

Trump's legal team issued a cease and desist letter to Taylor, accusing him of fraud and extortion, and disputing his unauthorized promises of access to Trump in exchange for campaign contributions.

Despite Taylor’s denial of the allegations, evidence suggests a pattern of deceit and manipulation, including using images of someone else's cancer treatment to falsely represent his own condition.

Taylor’s history of deception extends beyond his recent exploits, with previous criminal convictions for theft and multiple DUIs. His actions have left a trail of financial deceit and shattered trust among those who once considered him a friend or colleague.

An ex-lobbyist, Taylor's saga reads like a plotline from a suspenseful drama. He infiltrated Trump's inner circle, weaving a web of deceit that ensnared wealthy individuals and political figures alike. But his house of cards came crashing down when his fraudulent activities were exposed.

Former Idaho lobbyist Jesse Taylor, now finds himself banned from all Trump properties, with a cease and desist letter from Trump's lawyers in hand. His alleged victims paint a picture of a charming and well-connected individual who used his proximity to power for personal gain.

"He was trying to live that champagne lifestyle on nickel beer money," said Lafayette oil baron Mosing, one of Taylor's alleged victims. "As far as I’m concerned, he was looking for victims."

The cancer scam

Taylor's alleged schemes knew no bounds. He not only pocketed tens of thousands in a political donation scam but also purportedly faked cancer treatment to elicit sympathy and financial support from unsuspecting donors.

"He convinced a lobbying client, drag racer John Odom, to pay him $60,000 for supposed cancer medical bills in 2022," recounted one of Taylor's alleged victims. "He got another $20,000 from top GOP donor Greg Mosing for the same."

The Mosings, who fell prey to Taylor's alleged deception, expressed shock and dismay at the extent of his deceit. "We never thought that the request could be a scam," they lamented.

But perhaps most egregious was Taylor's use of someone else's cancer treatment photos to perpetrate his fraud. "Photos Taylor texted to Greg’s wife Donna in October 2022 appeared to be of him from the waist down getting cancer treatment in a hospital bed," per the Daily Mail.

However, an investigation revealed that Taylor had lifted the photo from a 2015 blog by a woman documenting her own cancer treatment. The depth of Taylor's deception knows no bounds.

"I am meeting with the [Ada County, Idaho] District Attorney’s office soon and will be asking them to file charges of credit card fraud, grand theft and fraud against him," declared Odom. "I hope that other individuals he has taken advantage of will do the same. I watched my mom die of cancer and to have someone lie about that for financial gain, there is a special place in hell for them."

Trump's legal team wasted no time in taking action against Taylor, issuing a scathing cease and desist letter accusing him of "fraud and extortion" and "shameless and manifest deceit." The letter, obtained by the Daily Mail, leaves no room for ambiguity in its condemnation of Taylor's alleged actions.

"You are promising donors a photo with President Trump in exchange for campaign contributions in the amount of $6,600, an offer you are not authorized to make, nor can you fulfill," the letter from Dhillon Law Group attorney David Warrington asserted.

Jesse Taylor's defense

But Taylor remains steadfast in his denial of the allegations, dismissing them as a "hit job" aimed at ruining his life and career.

"I categorically deny these allegations made and I will take steps to prove they are false," he told the Daily Mail. "This is a hit job from several people and at best distorts the truth and at worst is outright lies. These allegations and rumors are absolutely unproven and made by three individuals who’ve set out to ruin me, my career, and life."

Yet, the evidence against Taylor seems damning, with multiple sources corroborating accounts of his fraudulent activities. His alleged victims paint a portrait of a manipulative individual who exploited personal relationships and fabricated medical conditions for financial gain.

"He was often with the family, whether he was at Mar-a-Lago, out for dinner, or at their house," recalled a former friend of Taylor's. "He was somebody that was known to be connected to the Trumps."

But Taylor's deception extended beyond his personal relationships, as he allegedly defrauded Republican donors with promises of access to Trump in exchange for hefty contributions.

One GOP fundraiser recounted how Taylor offered donors a package deal including a photo with Trump and exclusive access to Mar-a-Lago for $6,600 each.

"Normally it’s a $25,000 fee just to get a picture with Trump," the fundraiser told the Daily Mail on condition of anonymity. "He was like, 'I’m working on this thing with Kimberly Guilfoyle’s foundation, and it’s just a friends and family fundraising opportunity. This is the most unbelievable deal you’ll ever get.'"

However, Taylor's alleged lies began to unravel when his victims started questioning the validity of his promises. "A month goes by," recounted the GOP fundraiser, "My client was asking about it. I asked Jesse six or seven times. There was always some excuse. I started asking around people I know who are very senior in the Trump Campaign. They said, 'He did what?'"

The fallout from Taylor's alleged schemes extends beyond financial losses, with trust and reputations irreparably damaged. "This scammer was not well known by either Don or Kimberly. He apparently lied to donors about his access, which was literally no access," said a source close to the Trump family.

Past brushes with the law

Taylor has a criminal record dating back to his youth.

Court records from Bear Lake County, Idaho, indicate that when he was 18 years old in 2003, Taylor was involved in stealing over $1,000 worth of merchandise from an Alco Discount Store storage container. Although he pleaded guilty to the charge, the judge opted against a felony conviction, instead sentencing him to serve 15 days in jail, completed on weekends.

Furthermore, Taylor has faced legal consequences for driving under the influence on two separate occasions, in 2014 and 2021.