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THE mayor of a small town in Georgia has been suspended after he was arrested and charged with providing alcohol to a group of prisoners.
Thomson Mayor Benjamin “Benji” Cary Cranford, 52, was arrested in August after a city council meeting in the small town, which is about two hours east of Atlanta, Georgia.
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The Georgia Bureau of Investigation put Cranford in handcuffs after the Thomson Police Department requested the GBI look into allegations that Cranford bought alcohol for inmates on June 3.
The indictment says that Cranford bought a bottle of Seagram’s Extra Dry Gin at a local liquor store, according to local CBS affiliate WRDW-TV.
The mayor allegedly left the gin in a ditch along a road on the path of a work crew of state prisoners.
A worker at the alcohol store told WRDW that Cranford was a regular at the establishment.
“At least twice a week? Sometimes it might be three, but usually, at least twice a week,” the employee said.
The GBI arrested and charged Cranford with furnishing prohibited items to inmates and criminal attempt to commit a felony on August 14.
He was booked into a local jail and later released on $5,000 bail.
Video footage of the mayor’s release shows him smiling and refusing to answer reporters’ requests for comments on his way out.
“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 to Fox News.
Governor Brian Kemp officially suspended Cranford from his position on October 4.
Cranford shared a statement maintaining his innocence with local outlet The McDuffie Progress.
“While I am disappointed in the decision to suspend me as the Mayor of Thomson, as a public servant of this community I feel compelled to address this directly,” Cranford’s statement, written on the notes app that comes with an iPhone, began.
“Regardless of title, I have been and will continue to serve my community as we work together to recover from the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene.
“I am confident that the truth will come out once I have my day in court. Until then, I look forward to continuing to be part of the positive changes that the community of Thomson wants and needs.”
Timeline of Benji Cranford’s legal troubles
Thomson Mayor Benji Cranford was suspended from his role on October 4. Here’s a look at the events leading up to his suspension:
July 20, 2023 – Bonding company Fidelity and Deposit Co files a lawsuit against Cranford’s company, C&H Paving
November 7, 2023 – Cranford unseats longtime Thomson mayor Kenneth Usry in the city election
January 2024 – Cranford takes office
June 4, 2024 – Cranford allegedly leaves alcohol for a work crew of prisoners at the Jefferson County Correctional Institution
June 6, 2024 – Thomson Police Department requests the Georgia Bureau of Investigation investigate the allegation
August 14, 2024 – Cranford is arrested and charged with Furnishing Prohibited Items to Inmates and Criminal Attempt to Commit a Felony. He is later released on $5,000 bail
August 20, 2024 – Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s office receives Cranford’s indictment
September 9, 2024 – Executive order issued to determine if the indictment affects Cranford’s duties
October 1, 2024 – Cranford’s suspension is recommended
October 4, 2024 – Governor Kemp officially suspends Cranford as mayor
This isn’t the first time Cranford has been in hot water since he first stepped into office in January 2024, unseating the city’s previous longtime mayor, Kenneth Usry.
Cranford faces a federal lawsuit that was filed in 2023, according to documents obtained by WRDW.
The lawsuit revealed financial troubles with Cranford’s paving company, C&H Paving, which he often referred to as being successful during his run for mayoral office.
Maryland bonding company Fidelity and Deposit Co. sued Cranford, alleging that he came to them to ask for help paying his debts to keep his business afloat.
The lawsuit says that Cranford broke his agreement promising to complete projects with the Georgia Department of Transportation.
As part of the agreement, he was also supposed to allow the Maryland company to access all company and personal assets – which he also didn’t hold up to, according to the suit.
The lawsuit said the bonding company suffered over $4 million in losses over Cranford’s projects.
Cranford’s suspension will stay in effect until the case is closed or until the mayor’s term expires in 2026.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Cranford for comment.
