FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS - Prosecutor Ali Summers stepped up to acting U.S. Attorney on Feb. 18 when President Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to fire Rachelle Crowe and 92 other U.S. attorneys.
Summers led Crowe’s criminal division for six years and prosecuted at least 200 defendants.
In January, she secured a guilty plea from Dax Baldridge of Fayette County on a charge that he fired eight projectiles at seven officers forcing entry to his home.
Grand jurors indicted Baldrige in 2023 and District Judge David Dugan presided until last August when he recused.
Chief District Judge Nancy Rosenstengel requested an outside judge and Seventh Circuit appellate judges designated Thomas Durkin of the Northern Illinois district.
The sentencing range runs from 40 to 44 years.
In February, Summers secured a guilty plea from Taje Thompson of East St. Louis on a charge of possessing firearms after a felony conviction.
Summers agreed not to seek more than 46 months.
She graduated from the University of Illinois in 1996 and from Southern Illinois University law school in 2000.
She worked two years as law clerk for former district judge David Herndon and after that as prosecutor in St. Clair and Madison counties.
Former U.S. attorney Stephen Wigginton hired her in 2012.
He resigned in 2015 and President Obama didn’t nominate a replacement.
Neither did President Trump.
Justice Department appointee Donald Boyce led the office for three years and appointee Steven Weinhoeft led the office for four years.
President Biden nominated Crowe in 2022 and Senators approved her on a voice vote.
She resigned a seat in the Illinois Senate that she won in 2018 with 59% against Edwardsville mayor Hal Patton.