BELLEFONTAINE, Ohio — A former bodyguard for the family of Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has been arrested on serious federal drug trafficking charges.
Justin Salsburey, 43, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, and his wife, Ruthann Rankin, were charged late last month with conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute large quantities of narcotics via the U.S. mail, with 261 parcels of counterfeit OxyContin and other pills delivered to their home in western Ohio between August 2024 and late last month. Salsburey, previously employed by ARK Protection Group for Ramaswamy’s family security, was removed from the detail upon news of the charges, while Rankin was released from her role as a schoolteacher in Urbana, Ohio. Salsburey is currently held in Franklin County jail in Columbus, Ohio, and Rankin has been released after initial detention.
The issue has raised eyebrows among those who value personal responsibility and law enforcement, sparking debate over how such allegations could intersect with a high-profile political family’s security arrangements.
According to AP News, it’s worth noting that Salsburey had passed multiple background checks by ARK Protection Group, the FBI, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation before his employment. Even a recent check by Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center in September gave him a clean slate. How, then, did this alleged criminal activity slip through?
He also passed a pre-employment drug test and never failed a random screening during his tenure. That’s a head-scratcher when you consider the scale of the accusations—261 parcels don’t exactly scream “casual oversight.”
“Vivek’s family contracts with a private security firm for protective services and was alarmed to hear this disturbing news,” said Connie Luck, campaign spokesperson for Vivek Ramaswamy, in a text. Alarmed is right—who wouldn’t be when someone trusted with your safety is tied to such serious charges?
The scope of the alleged operation is staggering, with hundreds of parcels reportedly delivered over just a few months. If proven, this isn’t a small-time mistake; it’s a deliberate betrayal of public trust.
Rankin’s removal from her teaching position in Urbana adds another layer of concern. When educators and security personnel are implicated in the same scheme, it’s a gut punch to community values.
“Vivek and his family take matters of safety seriously and support efforts to hold these individuals accountable for these allegations if they are proven,” added Connie Luck. That’s a fair stance—accountability matters, especially when public safety is on the line.
Let’s talk about those background checks. If multiple agencies and institutions cleared Salsburey, what does that say about the system’s ability to catch red flags before they become full-blown scandals?
Sure, he passed drug tests, but passing a test doesn’t mean you’re not orchestrating something sinister behind closed doors. It’s a reminder that paperwork and procedures can only go so far in rooting out bad actors.
The fact that an attorney who previously represented Salsburey hasn’t responded to inquiries only deepens the mystery. Silence in cases like this rarely reassures anyone.
For a candidate like Ramaswamy, who’s built a platform on challenging progressive overreach and restoring traditional values, this news is a distraction at best and a vulnerability at worst. His family deserves security they can trust, not headlines like this.
Ultimately, this case underscores why law and order must remain a priority over feel-good policies that sometimes let accountability slide. If these allegations hold up, it’s a stark lesson in the importance of vigilance—at every level of society.