Federal prosecutors charged a bodyguard assigned to protect the family of Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy with major drug-trafficking offenses.
Authorities arrested Justin Salsburey, 43, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, and his wife, Urbana schoolteacher Ruthann Rankin, on Dec. 30, according to local reporting by WSYX-TV. Prosecutors say investigators uncovered a months-long pipeline of suspected narcotics shipments and street-level distribution tied to 261 parcels mailed between August 2024 and December 2025.
Investigators say one intercepted package contained 119 blue counterfeit OxyContin pills that tested positive for fentanyl. After allowing a subsequent parcel to be delivered, agents observed Salsburey and Rankin place items on their porch that multiple people later collected. One recipient told authorities he purchased Adderall from the couple for $5 per pill.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 11: Vivek Ramaswamy attends Charity Day 2025 Hosted by Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund at BGC Group on September 11, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Cantor Fitzgerald)
A spokeswoman for Ramaswamy said his family immediately cut ties with the private security guard after learning of the allegations.
“Vivek’s family contracts with a private security firm for protective services and was alarmed to hear this disturbing news. Upon being informed of this matter in recent days, the outside security firm immediately removed the individual from the security detail. Prior to employment, the individual cleared multiple background checks conducted by the security company, as well as FBI and BCI background checks, most recently conducted by OSU Medical Center in September 2025,” campaign spokeswoman Connie Luck told the Daily Caller News Foundation.
“In addition, the security firm subjects all security personnel to pre-employment drug screenings and random drug testing throughout employment, and this individual never failed a drug screening. Vivek and his family take matters of safety seriously and support efforts to hold these individuals accountable for these allegations if they are proven. Further questions should be directed to the outside security firm.”
Prosecutors allege Salsburey mailed dozens of additional packages to an address in Middleburg Heights, including shipments containing pills that tested positive for fentanyl and methamphetamine. A search of the couple’s home uncovered large quantities of suspected drugs: 264 grams of blue pills, 938 grams of orange methamphetamine pills, and 19 grams of orange MDMA pills, along with other suspected controlled substances and steroids. (RELATED: Vivek Ramaswamy Rage Quits Social Media After Being Bullied For Being Indian)
After her arrest, Rankin told investigators she believed the blue pills were benzodiazepines and the orange pills were Adderall. She said her husband initially sold steroids and later expanded into other drugs. Federal court records show both defendants face charges of conspiracy to distribute, or intent to distribute, 40 grams or more of substances containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as possession with intent to distribute mixtures containing those drugs.
The private firm that employed him, ARK Protection Group, removed Salsburey from the detail immediately after learning of the arrest.
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