Mayor of Thomson Arrested for Furnishing Contraband to Inmates
On Wednesday, August 14, 2024, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) arrested and charged Benjamin Cary Cranford, age 52, the Mayor of Thomson, Georgia, with Furnishing Prohibited Items to Inmates and Criminal Attempt to Commit a Felony. The charges stem from an investigation initiated by the Thomson Police Department on June 6, 2024.
The investigation followed allegations that Cranford provided alcohol to an inmate work detail operating within Thomson’s city limits on June 4, 2024. On August 14, 2024, the case was presented to a McDuffie County Grand Jury, which issued an arrest warrant for Cranford.
Cranford was subsequently booked into the McDuffie County Jail. The GBI is seeking any additional information from the public. Tips can be submitted by calling 706-595-2575, 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or via the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
Upon completion of the investigation, the case file will be forwarded to the Toombs Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
