As of this past Tuesday, Sayler A. Fleming has stepped down from her role as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, as she announced, marking the end of a nearly five-year tenure. "It has been the privilege of a lifetime to lead the United States Attorney’s Office for the last four and a half years," she expressed in a statement given to the Department of Justice. Fleming, who began her journey as a federal prosecutor in the district in August of 2010, thanked law enforcement and community partners for their support over the years.
During her stint, which started after an appointment by then-Attorney General William P. Barr on December 11, 2020, the Eastern District of Missouri saw an increase in gun prosecutions, targeting particularly perilous crimes such as murders and armed robberies. After the resignation of former St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner in May 2023, Fleming entered into an agreement that allotted assistant U.S. attorneys the responsibility to prosecute murder cases – seeking to fill the void left in a time of staff depletion. Running United States Attorney’s Office in St. Louis, Fleming witnessed her team handling a surplus of violent crimes within the city limits.
Her office also made a substantial impact in the training of local law enforcement in areas like fatal drug overdose investigations and matters concerning machine gun conversion devices. According to a statement obtained by the Department of Justice, her prosecutors also shared expertise on prosecuting juveniles who commit murders during certain violent crimes. Apart from her prosecutorial efforts, Fleming co-chaired the Attorney General's Child Exploitation Working Group and bolstered the numbers of prosecutors targeting child exploitation cases.
Fleming's collaboration with federal agencies has not gone unnoticed. "The people of Eastern Missouri are safer thanks to her proactive and aggressive approach to prioritizing fighting violent crime," said Chris Crocker, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI St. Louis Division, working in hand with the U.S. Attorney's Office to effect their mission effectively. Mark A. Mossotti, Chief of the Bridgeton Police Department and Chairman of the St. Louis Area Police Chiefs Association, also praised Fleming for her effectual cooperation with different law enforcement agencies, despite the many police departments scattered across the St. Louis area, as per the Department of Justice.
Now, as the chapter ends with Fleming's departure, former First Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Drake steps in as Acting U.S. Attorney. Drake, a seasoned professional himself, joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office back in 2002 and has served in the National Security Unit. With a Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Missouri, Drake is expected to carry on the legacy of his predecessor. The office covers an extensive region of 49 counties, taking charge of prosecuting federal crimes and upholding public safety—a task that Ms. Fleming has left a significant mark on during her time in office.
