Updated: January 8 at 4:00 PM
More details are emerging about a local man arrested last week in connection with a large-scale drug trafficking investigation.
According to sources, Justin Salsburey was a bodyguard assigned to protect the family of Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
Salsburey was a member of the security team assigned to protect Ramaswamy’s family, according to campaign spokeswoman Connie Luck.
Luck said the private security firm that employed Salsburey, ARK Protection Group, immediately removed him from the Ramaswamy family’s security detail after learning of his arrest.
She added that neither Ramaswamy nor his family had any knowledge of the alleged criminal activity.
Salsburey had cleared multiple background checks before and after taking the job, including one in September 2025.
The security firm also subjects all security personnel to pre-employment drug screenings and random testing.
Salsburey had not failed a test, she said.
Ronald Gazboda Jr., from the ARK Protection Group, issued the following statement about Salsburey:
“I can confirm this individual is no longer employed by our security firm. I can also confirm that all employees are subject to State and Federal background checks, pre-employment drug screenings, and random drug testing. While we do not discuss specific security protocols for any of our clients, prior to this incident, we were not aware of any issues concerning this individual that would impact the safety of our clients or the public.”
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Update: January 6 at 4:30 AM
More details have surfaced about an incident that happened in Bellefontaine last week, where a husband and wife are now facing federal drug charges.
According to court records, 43-year-old Justin Salsburey was arrested last week on charges related to the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
His wife, Ruthann Rankin, a middle school teacher with Urbana City Schools, was charged in federal court on Monday.
According to investigators, the case began in November 2025 after suspicious packages were reported to law enforcement.
Records show 261 packages were shipped from across the country to a Bellefontaine address between August 2024 and December 2025.
Authorities say some packages were mailed using cryptocurrency-based postage services and were linked to addresses tied to previous drug seizures.
Law enforcement searched the Bellefontaine residence on December 30 and reported finding large amounts of pills that tested positive for fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other suspected drugs and steroids.
Salsburey was booked in the Franklin County Jail on December 30 and will remain in custody pending trial.
Rankin was charged on Monday, and a future court date has not been set.
Urbana City Schools Board Member, Taylor Armstrong, issued this statement when asked for comment about Rankin’s involvement:
“Unfortunately, myself and my colleagues on the Board learned of the situation at the same time the community did via several news reports. Despite this, I’m confident district administration will follow proper procedures & protocols to terminate this individual’s employment with the district as soon as possible.”
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UPDATE: December 30 at 7:51 PM
According to Steve Irwin, spokesperson for Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost’s office, the Central Ohio Major Drug Interdiction Task Force, operating under the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, served a warrant Tuesday at a residence in Bellefontaine.
Irwin said no other details could be released at this time.
The task force includes the Columbus Division of Police, BCI, Gahanna Police Department, Internal Revenue Service, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio State Highway Patrol, U.S. Postal Inspector, and Ohio HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program).
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A heavy law enforcement presence was reported Tuesday (December 30, 2025) evening near the intersection of North Elm Street and West Brown Avenue in Bellefontaine, around 5:30 p.m.
Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including the Bellefontaine Police Department, the Logan County Sheriff’s Office, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and detectives.
Officers blocked off the area as the situation unfolded.
Bellefontaine Police declined to provide details and referred all inquiries to the Office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, which is leading the investigation.
There is no threat to the general public.
As of Tuesday night, no additional information had been released, and the nature of the incident remained unclear.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
