Thomson, GA — Benjamin “Benji” Cary Cranford, the 52-year-old mayor of Thomson, Georgia, has been indicted on felony charges related to the alleged provision of alcohol to state prison inmates. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) arrested Cranford on Wednesday after he was charged with furnishing prohibited items to inmates and attempting to commit a felony, according to WRDW-TV.
The indictment, issued in McDuffie County Superior Court, accuses Cranford of driving to a local store on June 3 and purchasing a bottle of Seagram’s Extra Dry Gin. He allegedly left the bottle in a ditch along Cobbham Road, intending for it to be discovered by a work crew of state prisoners from the Jefferson County Correctional Institution.
The Thomson Police Department requested the GBI’s involvement in the investigation on June 6, following allegations that Cranford had provided alcohol to the inmates. Cranford was taken into custody at Thomson City Hall by GBI agents after a city council meeting and was booked into the McDuffie County Jail. He was released later that day on $5,000 bail.
City spokesperson Jason Smith issued a statement noting that the charges are not related to Cranford’s official duties. “As we understand, the charges in this case are not related to Mr. Cranford’s duties as an elected official, and we do not have a comment at this time.”
Cranford, who assumed office earlier this year after defeating incumbent Kenneth Usry, could face suspension from his role if a review panel determines the charges could impact his ability to perform his duties. This is consistent with precedents where officials facing felony charges not directly tied to their office have been suspended.
In addition to these legal troubles, Cranford, a former paving contractor, recently settled a lawsuit filed prior to his mayoral candidacy. The lawsuit accused him of attempting to conceal assets from a bonding company that had stepped in to cover his company’s debts amid financial difficulties.