Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy said he was alarmed after a man who served as his family’s bodyguard was indicted on federal drug trafficking charges. Authorities allege 261 parcels of counterfeit OxyContin and other pills were mailed to the couple’s western Ohio home. The bodyguard, Justin Salsburey, was removed from the security detail; his wife, Ruthann Rankin, was taken off her teaching post in Urbana. Campaign officials say Salsburey passed multiple background checks, including FBI and state reviews.
Family Bodyguard for Vivek Ramaswamy Arrested in Federal Drug Trafficking Case
Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican candidate for governor of Ohio, speaks at a rally Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A man who served as a bodyguard for Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy's family has been arrested on federal drug trafficking charges, authorities and the campaign said.
Federal prosecutors charged 43-year-old Justin Salsburey of Bellefontaine and his wife, Ruthann Rankin, with conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute large quantities of narcotics shipped through the U.S. mail. Criminal complaints allege that 261 parcels containing counterfeit OxyContin and other pills were delivered to the couple's western Ohio home between August 2024 and last month.
Security Detail Removed After Allegations
Campaign spokeswoman Connie Luck said Salsburey had been employed by a private security firm retained by the Ramaswamy family. She said ARK Protection Group removed him from the family's security detail immediately after the allegations came to light.
"Vivek's family contracts with a private security firm for protective services and was alarmed to hear this disturbing news," Luck said in a text message. She added that Salsburey passed multiple background checks conducted by the security company, the FBI and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation before his hiring, and that the most recent check was performed by Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center in September.
Employment And Custody Status
Luck also said Salsburey passed a pre-employment drug test and never failed a random drug screen. According to the Franklin County jail roster, Salsburey is being held in the Franklin County jail in Columbus; it was not immediately clear whether Rankin is in custody.
Rankin, who worked as a schoolteacher in nearby Urbana, has been removed from her position, the school district said in a statement. A message left with an attorney who previously represented Salsburey was not immediately returned.
"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 said.
The charges in federal court remain allegations. If convicted, the defendants could face significant prison time and other penalties under federal drug laws.
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