Governor Kemp suspends Georgia mayor who was arrested for leaving alcohol in a ditch for inmates

The mayor of a small Georgia town has been suspended by GOP Gov. Brian Kemp after he was accused of hiding a bottle of gin in a ditch so a state prison work crew could access it.

Thomson Mayor Benjamin “Benji” Cary Cranford, 52, was indicted in August and subsequently arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on felony charges of providing prohibited items to inmates and attempting to commit a felony.

Cranford allegedly drove to a store on June 3 and purchased a bottle of Seagram’s Extra Dry Gin before abandoning it in a ditch along Cobbham Road in Thomson, Georgia, in the path of a work party of state prisoners from the Jefferson County Correctional Institution.

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Just days later, Thomson police asked the GBI to conduct an investigation into allegations that Cranford left alcohol for inmates.

Cranford was taken into custody by GBI agents after a city council meeting in August. He was booked into the McDuffie County Jail and was later released on $5,000 bail.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp suspended Thomson Mayor Benjamin Cary Cranford after he was accused of hiding a bottle of gin in a ditch so a state prison work crew could access it. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Kemp issued an executive order Friday officially suspending Cranford as mayor. Cranford took office earlier this year after defeating incumbent Kenneth Usry in last year’s election.

The governor’s office received the indictment on August 20 and an executive order was issued on September 9 appointing members to a review commission to determine whether the indictment affected or interfered with the mayor’s performance of his duties.

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Kemp issued an executive order Friday officially suspending Cranford. (iStock)

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The commission submitted a report to the governor on October 1st showing that the charges interfered with the performance of the mayor’s duties and the rights and interests of the public. The commission recommended that Cranford be suspended.

Cranford’s suspension takes effect immediately and will remain in effect until the case is finally determined or until the mayor’s term expires, whichever occurs first.