Federal authorities have detained a security professional responsible for the safety of Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy's family. Justin Salsburey, aged 43, from Bellefontaine, Ohio, along with his spouse Ruthann Rankin, a local schoolteacher, were apprehended on December 30 on severe drug trafficking allegations.
The arrest followed an extensive investigation that uncovered a purported distribution network which trafficked 261 packages via the mail system from August 2024 to December 2025. Law enforcement officers intercepted one of these packages, finding it contained 119 fake OxyContin pills, which were later confirmed to have fentanyl.
"Vivek and his family take matters of safety seriously and support efforts to hold these individuals accountable for these allegations if they are proven." - Connie Luck, Campaign Spokeswoman.
Further surveillance led to more discoveries at the couple's home where various individuals were observed collecting items from their porch. One such individual later disclosed to authorities that they had purchased Adderall from Salsburey and Rankin for $5 per pill.
A campaign spokeswoman for the Ramaswamy family, Connie Luck, expressed the family's commitment to security and their support for holding the accused accountable, assuming the allegations are substantiated. The Western Journal reported that the private security firm ARK Protection Group, which had employed Salsburey, took swift action to terminate his assignment and reassured the public of their stringent vetting procedures, including federal and state-level background checks, as well as regular drug tests which Salsburey had passed.
A search of Salsburey and Rankin's residence led to the seizure of significant quantities of suspected controlled substances, including blue pills, orange methamphetamine pills, MDMA, additional drugs, and steroids. Rankin later suggested to officials that the blue pills were meant to be benzodiazepines and the orange pills, Adderall. She also revealed that her husband had initially begun selling steroids before diversifying into other substances.
Both defendants now face charges of conspiracy to distribute, or intent to distribute, substances containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as possession with intent to distribute these drugs. Federal prosecutors have presented evidence of numerous shipments sent by Salsburey, with lab tests confirming the presence of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
The Ramaswamy family indicated that Salsburey had passed all necessary background checks and drug tests prior to his engagement. With court proceedings underway, the case against Salsburey and Rankin brings to light the complexities of drug trafficking operations and the challenges faced in ensuring the integrity of those entrusted with personal security.
