Vivek Ramaswamy's Bodyguard Arrested on Federal Drug Trafficking Charges

A bodyguard for Ohio governor candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has just been arrested over federal drug trafficking allegations.

43-year-old Justin Salsburey and his wife Ruthann Rankin stand accused of dealing illegal drugs, including meth and fentanyl.

Vivek Ramaswamy’s family bodyguard was arrested on drug trafficking charges involving fentanyl, methamphetamine, and MDMA.

The Ramaswamy family said their now-federally charged bodyguard had passed all required background checks and drug tests.

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Here’s a closer look at Salsburey’s mugshot:

BREAKING: Vivek Ramaswamy’s bodyguard has been charged federally over alleged fentanyl and meth trafficking. pic.twitter.com/y3F1jONEhd

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Authorities first caught on to Salsburey and Rankin’s drug operation in November after being notified that they were receiving lots of packages containing narcotics at their home.

The New York Post reported:

Federal authorities caught wind of Salsburey’s and Rankin’s alleged drug dealing operation in November 2025, when postal inspectors in Columbus, Ohio received information from the Logan County Ohio Sheriff’s Office that the couple “was receiving shipments of bulk narcotics,” according to an affidavit filed by an inspector.

The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) later 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 between Aug. 1, 2024, and Dec. 22, 2025.

A “trash pull” of the couple’s garbage turned up several empty glass vials, syringes and baggies that tested positive for the presence of fentanyl, according to USPIS.

In late November, USPIS intercepted a package bound for the couple’s home and discovered about 119 grams of blue pills “consistent with counterfeit oxycontin” which tested positive for fentanyl.

Investigators allowed multiple other parcels suspected of containing drugs to be delivered to the home of Salsburey and Rankin, and they observed the couple periodically leaving objects in a small cooler on their porch.

The objects would later be picked up by other individuals.

One individual who took an item from the cooler later told authorities that he purchased Adderall from the couple for $5 per pill.

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Authorities found that the object the individual picked up from the cooler was a Zyn container with approximately 11 grams of orange pills which tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine.

A search of the couple’s home by law enforcement turned up pills containing 264 grams of fentanyl, 938 grams of methamphetamine, 19 grams of MDMA and “various other suspected controlled substances and steroids.”

Authorities also discovered a Zyn container in the cooler with meth pills and Velo (another nicotine pouch manufacturer) containers with suspected drugs inside the home.

Salsburey’s wife, Ruthann Rankin is a schoolteacher and bodybuilder (weird combination, I know.)

According to her, Salsburey started out selling steroids before venturing into other types of drugs.

All while dealing drugs, Salsburey was employed by a private security firm that the Ramaswamy family contracted for bodyguard services.

Apparently, he had no problem passing all the required drug and background checks.

ABC 6 shared the Ramaswamy family’s shocked reaction to the news:

Prior to his arrest, Salsburey worked for ARK Protection Group and was on Ramaswamy’s security detail, per Connie Luck, spokesperson for Ramaswamy.

“Vivek’s family contracts with a private security firm for protective services and was alarmed to hear this disturbing news. Upon being informed of this matter in recent days, the outside security firm immediately removed the individual from the security detail,” she said.

Luck said that Salsburey cleared multiple background checks, including FBI and BCI background checks. He also never failed a drug screening.

“Vivek and his family take matters of safety seriously and support efforts to hold these individuals accountable for these allegations if they are proven.”