Former Anoka County assistant attorney charged with running sex trafficking ring
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A former assistant Anoka County attorney faces 26 felony charges for allegedly running an online sex trafficking ring in Hennepin County.
Andrea Leigh Sampson, 35, created various shell companies to funnel profits from sex trafficking between 2020 to 2026, including while she worked for Anoka County, according to charging documents filed by Hennepin County prosecutors on Thursday. Investigators learned properties in Minneapolis, Bloomington, Eden Prairie and St. Louis Park owned by Sampson were allegedly used to photograph victims for sexual advertisements.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said during a Monday news conference investigators are looking for more illegal activity. She urged other victims whom investigators have not spoken with to come forward.
“The level of sophistication and victimization for profit is disturbing, and these charges represent the beginning of a process to hold these four individuals accountable,” she said. “I want to say when we're talking about commercial sex trafficking, that kind of thing, it really kind of, I think, minimizes what happened and the harm that was done here. No one wants to be involved in a sex trafficking ring. It is something that happens to you.”
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Sampson worked in the Anoka County Attorney Office’s family law and civil divisions. A statement from Anoka County Attorney Brad Johnson said the office put Sampson on leave Feb. 25 when the state alerted them to the investigation before firing her March 9.
Prosecutors said Sampson worked with three others in the conspiracy, including alleged ringleader Frank Reeves, 57; Viktoriya Komonash, 30, who is accused of procuring women; and Katherine Thomes, 36, who prosecutors say ran the Minnesota Erotic Personals website clients used to order women. Reeves and Komonash collected money from the victims posted on the website and put them into bank accounts maintained by Sampson.
Sampson, Reeves and Komonash also operate assisted living and autism services businesses, according to the charging documents. Prosecutors said the four were in a polyamorous sexual relationship.
Sampson, Reeves and Komonash all appeared in court for the first time Monday afternoon. Their next appearances are scheduled for mid-September. Thomes first appearance was scheduled for Tuesday.
All four were in the Henneping County jail as of Monday on $1 million bail.
Sampson, Reeves and Komonash were all in the Hennepin County jail as of Sunday. Bail for all three was set at $1 million.
Sampson’s first court appearance is Monday.
Editors note: The headline of this story has been updated to reflect a more accurate term concerning the charges.
