‘Alarmed and Disturbed’: Vivek Ramaswamy’s Family Bodyguard Charged with Trafficking Fentanyl and Meth

Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy expressed alarm this week after federal authorities charged a man who worked as his family’s bodyguard with trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine through the U.S. Postal Service—an operation that allegedly involved more than 260 drug packages delivered over 16 months while he protected the former presidential candidate’s family.

Justin Salsburey, 43, of Bellefontaine, Ohio, and his wife, Ruthann Rankin, 38, a teacher at Urbana City Schools, were each charged late last month in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, according to WOSU Public Media and multiple sources.

According to Connie Luck, spokesperson for Ramaswamy’s campaign, the family contracts with a private security firm for protective services and “was alarmed to hear this disturbing news,” as reported by The Associated Press.

“Upon being informed of this matter in recent days, the outside security firm immediately removed the individual from the security detail,” Luck stated.

Beyond expressing alarm and noting Salsburey’s immediate removal, Ramaswamy’s campaign emphasized the family’s commitment to accountability.

According to the AP, Luck stated: “Vivek and his family take matters of safety seriously and support efforts to hold these individuals accountable for these allegations if they are proven.”

The statement walks a careful line—expressing concern while noting the charges remain allegations pending legal proceedings, and emphasizing that Ramaswamy’s family relies on a contracted security firm rather than directly employing bodyguards.

The scope of the alleged drug trafficking operation was extensive. According to court records cited by WDTN and reported across multiple outlets, more than 260 parcels were delivered to the couple’s Bellefontaine home between August 1, 2024, and December 22, 2025—a period during which Salsburey was actively working on Ramaswamy’s security detail.

According to the New York Post, the United States Postal Inspection Service determined that 31 parcels with postage purchased with cryptocurrency—which the affidavit notes is often the case for “shipment of items purchased on darknet marketplaces”—had been mailed to the couple’s home during this period.

The investigation began in November 2025, according to the Post, when postal inspectors in Columbus received information from the Logan County Ohio Sheriff’s Office that the couple “was receiving shipments of bulk narcotics.”

The case raises troubling questions about how Salsburey could operate a large-scale drug trafficking operation while passing the extensive vetting required for protective security work.

According to The Associated Press and multiple sources, Luck stated that Salsburey had cleared multiple background checks run by the security company, the FBI, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation prior to his employment. The most recent background check was conducted by Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center in September 2025, she said.

Additionally, according to the AP, Luck said Salsburey passed a pre-employment drug test and never failed a random drug screening throughout his employment.

The security firm, ARK Protection Group, leads Ramaswamy’s security detail, according to WOSU Public Media. According to the same source, Ramaswamy’s campaign paid ARK Protection Group $32,604 in 2025 for security services, based on campaign finance reports.

The Political Context

The timing of these revelations is particularly sensitive given Ramaswamy’s current political position.

According to WOSU Public Media, Ramaswamy is the leading candidate to win the Republican nomination to run for Ohio governor once current Governor Mike DeWine’s term ends. DeWine is ineligible to run for re-election due to term limits.

Ramaswamy has already received an endorsement from President Donald Trump.The New York Post reported that Ramaswamy holds a narrow 1-point lead over Democrat Amy Acton in the Ohio governor’s race, according to the latest RealClearPolitics average of polls.

According to the Post, Salsburey was part of Ramaswamy’s security team up until his arrest, meaning he was actively protecting the candidate and his family during the 2025 gubernatorial campaign—while allegedly receiving bulk shipments of fentanyl and methamphetamine through the mail.

Ramaswamy, a former pharmaceutical executive and author, ran for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination before dropping out and endorsing Donald Trump. After leaving the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) after just days as co-leader with Elon Musk following Trump’s January 2026 inauguration, Ramaswamy has focused on his Ohio gubernatorial campaign.

Most recently, Ramaswamy made headlines for his December 2025 New York Times op-ed and Turning Point USA speech condemning white nationalism and defending Indian Americans against racist attacks from the far-right, particularly in response to slurs directed at Second Lady Usha Vance.

That Ramaswamy’s own security detail included someone allegedly running a substantial drug trafficking operation adds an ironic dimension to his campaign messaging about law and order and his support for aggressive anti-cartel operations.

As Ohio voters prepare for the 2026 gubernatorial election, Ramaswamy will need to demonstrate that this security breach doesn’t reflect broader vulnerabilities in his campaign operations or judgment in selecting the firms that protect his family.

For now, Ramaswamy’s response—immediate removal, expressed alarm, and support for accountability—appears designed to distance himself from an employee of a contracted firm while acknowledging the seriousness of the charges.

This story was aggregated by AI from several news reports and edited by American Kahani’s News Desk.