A Bellefontaine couple has pleaded guilty in federal court to taking part in a narcotics conspiracy involving bulk amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine shipped through the mail.
Justin Salsburey, 44, pleaded guilty Friday, while his wife, Ruthann Rankin, 39, pleaded guilty last week.
Salsburey is a former bodyguard for Ohio Republican candidate for governor Vivek Ramaswamy.
Rankin was previously a teacher in the Urbana School District.
According to court documents, the Ohio High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force received information from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office in November 2025 that Salsburey was receiving large quantities of narcotics at his Bellefontaine home and that Rankin was involved in the trafficking.
Investigators determined the couple received approximately 260 parcels from across the country between August 2024 and December 2025.
Surveillance showed Salsburey and Rankin retrieving the packages and placing drugs in a cooler on their porch for pickup.
Salsburey also traveled to a post office in Dublin to mail fentanyl and methamphetamine pills to customers.
Investigators say he mailed 52 parcels from Bellefontaine addresses to one customer in Middleburg Heights.
A search of the couple’s home uncovered bulk quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine pills, suspected steroids and 12 firearms.
Rankin told investigators she helped Salsburey sell steroids and Adderall pills.
She said her husband began selling steroids before moving into other drugs.
Both Salsburey and Rankin pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 500 grams of methamphetamine and at least 40 grams of fentanyl.
The charge carries a potential sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in federal prison.
The guilty pleas were announced by U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II, Acting U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector in Charge David Cunningham, and Logan County Sheriff Randall J. Dodds.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicole Pakiz and Jennifer M. Rausch.
