Purcellville Town Manager Kwasi Fraser and Vice Mayor Carl “Ben” Nett were both arrested on July 23, when Nett was charged with six felonies and Fraser was charged with two. The charges stem from the hiring of a consultant earlier this year to investigate the feasibility of eliminating the town’s police department. Nett allegedly told the consultant what to include in the report — including that he should be named chief of police.
Background on the Case
Nett had been fired from the Purcellville police department in early April because of accusations that he misused sick leave. He was terminated the same week the Purcellville Town Council voted to dissolve the police department. The Council reversed course two weeks later and voted to fully fund the police department through FY2026.
An advisory opinion from the Commonwealth Attorney for Loudoun County Bob Anderson said that Nett’s communication with the consultant was inappropriate. And he alleged that the vote to disband the police department was “retaliation” for Nett’s firing. Officials removed Nett’s access to police department records and he was no longer permitted to vote or attend meetings related to the department.
Attorney General Jason Miyares then authorized the Virginia State Police to begin a criminal investigation into Nett.
Grand Jury Charges
Following this investigation, a grand jury handed down six indictments for Nett and two for Fraser, Loudoun Now reported. Four charges against Nett allege that he used a law enforcement database to gather information through the use of “material artifice, trickery, or deception.”
Virginia State Police Public Relations Coordinator Matt Demlein told Loudoun Now that the violations are in regarding to Nett accessing the Virginia Criminal Information Network. The statewide system links to regional and national law enforcement systems including the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, National Crime Information Center, and National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System.
A fifth charge alleges that Nett rigged government bidding. An additional charge relates to commercial fraud against the government. The grand jury indicted Fraser on those same two charges as well.
Court Hearing
Nett and Fraser appeared in court on Monday, July 28, for the first hearings in the case. Attorneys for both men said were not yet ready to schedule a trial. They plan to file several motions in the next few days. A date to review the case was set for September 4.
Former state senator Dick Black attended the hearings. He spoke out in support of Nett and Fraser. “This is lawfare of the most despicable fashion,” Black said. He told reporters that he may eventually be a witness in the case, InsideNOVA reported.
Black implied that Nett and Fraser are being targeted due to Nett’s opposition of a proposed land annexing and development. According to Loudoun Now, Black is referring to effort by local businessman Chuck Kuhn for the Purcellville Town Council to annex 117 acres just outside the town for a business park. The motion had reportedly been denied earlier this year. But it is still advancing with an application to build it with more than 1 million square feet of flex industrial space under the county government’s zoning rules.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
