The mayor of a small town in Georgia, Benjamin “Benji” Cary Cranford, has been indicted on charges for leaving a bottle of gin in a ditch for a state prison work crew, which is considered illegal. The indictment, issued in McDuffie County Superior Court, states that Cranford bought a bottle of Seagram’s Extra Dry Gin on June 3 and placed it in a ditch along Georgia 150 in Thomson where a work crew of state prisoners was located from the Jefferson County Correctional Institution.

Following an investigation prompted by Thomson police on June 6, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) arrested Cranford at Thomson City Hall after a city council meeting. He was taken into custody on charges of furnishing prohibited items to inmates and attempting to commit a felony.

Cranford, 52, did not speak to reporters as he was escorted away in handcuffs after his arrest. He was released from McDuffie County Jail on $5,000 bail. As of Thursday, court records did not show a lawyer representing him, and he has yet to appear before a judge.

City officials, including Jason Smith, the local community development director who acts as a city spokesperson, declined to comment on the matter. Smith mentioned that the charges against Cranford do not seem to be related to his duties as an elected official.

If a panel recommends to Gov. Brian Kemp that Cranford’s ability to serve as mayor is compromised by the charges, Cranford could face suspension from office until the legal proceedings are concluded. In a previous lawsuit settlement, Cranford, a former paving contractor, was accused of concealing assets from a bonding company responsible for covering some of the company’s debts. Cranford won last year’s election, defeating a 12-year incumbent.