A CEO for a recruiting firm has been sentenced to probation after he pleaded guilty to fatally hitting a 38-year-old man and fleeing the scene, leaving the victim to die on Route 12 in Lake Zurich.
The Lake Zurich Police Department responded around 11:43 p.m. on December 17, 2022, to the 700 block of South Rand Road in Lake Zurich.
Then-Lake Zurich Deputy Police Chief David Anderson said at the time that a call was made for a report of a male subject walking in the roadway.
Officers arrived in the area and observed a dark-colored SUV hit the pedestrian, who was walking on Route 12.
The vehicle fled the scene and continued southbound on Route 12, Anderson said.
Officers performed lifesaving efforts on the victim until the Lake Zurich Fire Rescue Department arrived.
The victim, Jose Portillo, 38, of Lake Zurich, was pronounced dead at the scene, Anderson said.
The Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) was called to the scene to conduct a crash investigation.
Southbound Route 12 between Deerpath Road and June Terrace was closed for several hours while the investigation was completed.
In January 2024, a Lake County grand jury returned a two-count indictment charging Gary L. Bozza, 68, of Arlington Heights, in connection with the incident.
Bozza was charged with failure to report a crash involving death, a Class 1 felony, and leaving the scene of a crash involving death, a Class 4 felony.
A grand jury indictment said Bozza was the driver of the suspect vehicle and failed to stop at the scene after striking Portillo.
He was processed at the Lake Zurich Police Department following an initial court appearance and released with pre-trial conditions.
A federal lawsuit said Bozza was the CEO and President of WorldBridge Partners Chicago NW at the time of the incident.
Bozza is currently listed as the President and Managing Partner of the company, which is a national executive search firm based in Lake Zurich.
The company’s website said Bozza founded the firm in 1997 following a “highly successful” 18-year career as a vice president for an accounting firm.
“Gary’s practice is dedicated to helping Owners, CEOs, Presidents, Vice President of Human Resources, and Private Equity Firms drive revenue, maximize the effectiveness of human capital resources, while building enterprise value,” a profile of Bozza says on the company’s website.
Court records show Bozza entered into a negotiated plea deal with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office earlier this month.
He pleaded guilty to one count of leaving the scene of a crash involving death, a Class 4 felony, in exchange for his more serious charge being dismissed.
Bozza faced four to 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for the Class 1 felony that was dismissed.
Pursuant to the plea deal, Bozza was sentenced to 30 months of probation, 200 hours of community service and ordered not to consume alcohol or illegal drugs and not to drive.