Federal authorities arrested a security professional assigned to protect Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy’s family on significant drug trafficking charges last month.
Justin Salsburey, 43, from Bellefontaine, Ohio, was taken into custody alongside his wife, Ruthann Rankin, an Urbana schoolteacher, on Dec. 30.
Law enforcement officials seized evidence linked to an alleged distribution network involving 261 parcels shipped through the mail system between August 2024 and December 2025, according to local reporting.
Officials intercepted one package containing 119 counterfeit OxyContin pills, which laboratory testing confirmed contained fentanyl.
Investigators subsequently permitted another delivery to proceed to the couple’s residence.
Surveillance teams watched as Salsburey and Rankin placed items on their front porch.
Multiple individuals arrived at the location and retrieved these items.
One person who collected materials from the porch provided a statement to law enforcement. This individual reported purchasing Adderall from the couple at a price of $5 per pill.
Campaign spokeswoman Connie Luck addressed the matter on behalf of the Ramaswamy family.
“Vivek and his family take matters of safety seriously and support efforts to hold these individuals accountable for these allegations if they are proven,” Luck stated, per another report.
Federal prosecutors presented evidence of additional shipments allegedly sent by Salsburey. Dozens of packages were reportedly mailed to an address located in Middleburg Heights.
Testing conducted on pills contained in these shipments yielded positive results for fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the couple’s residence.
The search produced substantial quantities of suspected controlled substances. Agents discovered 264 grams of blue pills, 938 grams of orange methamphetamine pills, and 19 grams of orange MDMA pills.
Additional suspected controlled substances and steroids were also recovered from the property.
Following her arrest, Rankin provided statements to investigators regarding the substances found in her home.
She indicated her belief that the blue pills were benzodiazepines and the orange pills were Adderall.
Rankin told authorities her husband initially engaged in steroid sales before expanding operations to include other substances.
Court documents filed in federal court outline the charges against both defendants.
Both Salsburey and Rankin face charges of conspiracy to distribute—or intent to distribute—40 grams or more of substances containing fentanyl and methamphetamine.
They also face charges of possession with intent to distribute mixtures containing these drugs.
ARK Protection Group, the private security firm that employed Salsburey, took immediate action upon learning of the arrest.
The company terminated Salsburey’s assignment to the protective detail, the Western Journal said.
The firm released information regarding their vetting procedures.
Salsburey successfully cleared multiple background investigations prior to his employment, including screenings conducted at both federal and state levels.
Ohio State University Medical Center performed an additional review as recently as September.
The company confirmed Salsburey passed pre-employment drug testing.
He also cleared random drug screenings administered during his employment with the firm.
