A recently released email obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request shows that Interim Town Manager Tony Sabio completed a reference questionnaire in 2022 for Vice Mayor Carl Ben Nett during Nett’s hiring process with the Purcellville Police Department.
The email, dated May 17, 2022, was sent by Sabio to then-Lieutenant Barry Dufek. It contained responses to a reference questionnaire for Nett, who was seeking employment with the department at the time. (The responses were redacted and not included in the FOIA response.)
In a November 13, 2025 interview with Purcellville News, Sabio described his prior connection to Nett as limited and primarily dating back to their attendance at the same police academy in 2002.
“Ben Nett was in the same academy as me back in 2002,” Sabio said. “After graduation, he went in his own direction.”
Sabio stated that he had minimal contact with Nett in the years following the academy and characterized their relationship as having little interaction over an extended period of time. When asked about Nett being invited to his wedding Sabio responded he invited the entire class.
When asked about completing the reference questionnaire in 2022, Sabio explained that serving as a reference did not necessarily reflect an ongoing relationship or direct communication with Nett.
“Reference doesn’t equal communication,” Sabio said. “I was sent something I didn’t even know.”
Sabio noted that at the time he was operating a private security company and that professional circles in law enforcement and security can overlap.
“So in 2022, I’m the director of security running a security company,” he said. “We do have a lot of people in the same circles.”
According to Sabio, providing references is a routine professional practice, and any reference he gives is based solely on the knowledge he has of an individual.
“I give references to everyone,” Sabio said. “And my reference goes based upon the knowledge I have of them.”
Sabio stated that he did not request to be listed as a reference for Nett and had no control over being identified as one.
“They ask for three references. I was one of possibly three,” he said. “I didn’t ask. I received it, reviewed it, answered the questions, and sent it back.”
He further explained that his involvement was limited to responding to a background inquiry initiated by law enforcement and that he does not consider such an exchange to constitute personal or professional communication with the applicant.
“If I’m contacted by a police department conducting a background investigation or background reference, that’s different,” Sabio said. “If they list me as a reference and obtain my email, I have no control over that. I don’t consider that communication with that person.”
The FOIA-released email and Sabio’s comments have drawn attention to the circumstances surrounding the reference and the nature of his prior acquaintance with Nett, particularly given Sabio’s current role as interim town manager.
Purcellville News obtained a blank copy of the background questionnaire that Tony Sabio completed in 2022 when Ben Nett applied for a police department position. Please refer to the attached document for the questionnaire.