The mayor of a small town in Georgia is facing felony charges for allegedly hiding a bottle of gin in a ditch for state prison inmates to access.
Thomson Mayor Benjamin “Benji” Cary Cranford, 52, was indicted on Wednesday and arrested by Georgia Bureau of Investigation agents on charges of furnishing prohibited items to inmates and attempting to commit a felony, WRDW-TV reported.
The indictment, issued in McDuffie County Superior Court, accuses Cranford of purchasing a bottle of Seagram’s Extra Dry Gin on June 3 and leaving it in a ditch along Cobbham Road in Thomson, Georgia, for a work crew of state prisoners from the Jefferson County Correctional Institution.
Thomson Police requested the GBI to investigate the allegations on June 6 that Cranford provided alcohol to inmates.
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Thomson Mayor Benjamin Cary Cranford, 52, faces charges of furnishing prohibited items to inmates and attempt to commit a felony. (McDuffie County Jail)
Cranford was taken into custody at Thomson City Hall by GBI agents after a city council meeting and then booked into the McDuffie County Jail. He was released on $5,000 bail.
“As we understand the charges in this case are not related to Mr. Cranford’s duties as an elected official, we do not have a comment,” city spokesperson Jason Smith said in a statement.
Cranford could face suspension from office until the charges are resolved if it is recommended to Georgia Governor Brian Kemp that the charges could impact Cranford’s ability to serve as mayor.
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Cranford was taken into custody at Thomson City Hall by GBI agents following a city council meeting. (istock)
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The mayor assumed office earlier this year after winning against incumbent Kenneth Usry in the previous year’s election.
Recently, Cranford, a former paving contractor, settled a lawsuit filed before his election, accusing him of hiding assets from a bonding company that covered some of his company’s debts during financial difficulties to ensure completion of projects.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
