Former Chicago Cop Sentenced to 8 Years in Fatal DUI Crash

Former Chicago police detective, Joseph Frugoli, was sentenced to 8 years in prison for a fatal DUI crash on the Dan Ryan Expressway in 2009. Frugoli is blamed for the deaths of Andrew Cazares, 23, and Fausto Manzera, 21, a student at Depaul.

In the early morning hours of April 10, 2009, Frugoli reportedly crashed into the back of the victims’ vehicle while it was disabled on the expressway. The two men were trapped inside the vehicle when it was consumed by fire. Frugoli was helped out of his vehicle by a passerby and was then seen limping away from the wreck down an off-ramp. He was apprehended a short time later according to prosecutors. Frugoli’s BAC was over three times the legal limit of .08.

Frugoli pleaded guilty to aggravated DUI but denied intentionally leaving the scene. He was found guilty of that charge by a Cook County judge. His attorneys requested that he be placed in protective custody during his sentence. The victims’ families were upset and outraged by the length of jail time imposed.

Ex-Chicago detective gets 8 years in fatal ’09 DUI crash, www.chicagotribune.com, November 16, 2012 Ex-Chicago policeman gets 8 years for DUI crash, www.stltoday.com, November 17, 2012