Mayor allegedly hoarding alcohol for prisoners in hidden trench

The mayor of a small town was charged with illegally hiding a bottle of gin in a ditch for a squad of prisoners to find.

Mayor Benjamin “Benji” Cary Cranford, 52, of Thomson, Georgia, was arrested by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on charges of delivering prohibited items to inmates and attempting to commit a crime.

According to the indictment, on June 3, Cranford purchased a bottle of Seagram's Extra Dry Gin and hid it in a ditch off Georgia State Route 150. That ditch was in the direct path of a work crew for state prisoners at the Jefferson County Correctional Institution.

According to WRDW-TV, Cranford was arrested after a city council meeting at Thomson City Hall and led out of the building in handcuffs.

Cranford could be removed from office if Georgia Governor Brian Kemp believes the situation negatively impacts Cranford's ability to act as mayor.

Cranford and other city officials declined to comment.

Authorities did not disclose any possible reasons or motives for the mayor's alleged actions.

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