Former Anoka Co. assistant attorney, 3 others charged for running "disturbing" sex trafficking ring, HCAO says

Hennepin County prosecutors on Monday morning elaborated on charges filed against four people last week, including former Anoka County Assistant Attorney Andrea Sampson, for allegedly running a "sprawling" sex trafficking scheme over the course of several years. 

The four were charged with 13 counts each of promoting prostitution of an individual and receiving profits from prostitution. 

Prosecutors allege 57-year-old Frank Reeves ran the operation with the assistance of Sampson, Viktoriya Komonash, 30, and Katherine Thomes, 36. 

The group recruited women and posted commercial sex advertisements on a website they owned, then collected money from the victims posted online, prosecutors say. 

Reeves and Komonash posted and recruited the victims, Thomes owned and operated the website and Sampson was responsible for creating and maintaining shell companies through which to launder money, the charges say.

"The level of sophistication and victimization for profit is disturbing," said Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. 

Authorities spoke with at least 13 women who had been offered for commercial sex through the organization and provided money from their transactions to it, according to the complaint. Moriarty says there are likely many more victims, and encouraged them to come forward. 

"No one wants to be involved in a sex trafficking ring. It is something that happens to you. The thirteen victims and others are victims and suffered great harm from being forced to be in this sex trafficking ring," Moriarty said.

The organization operated in Minneapolis, Bloomington, Eden Prairie and St. Louis Park, the criminal complaint said. 

The Anoka County Attorney's Office said it placed Sampson on leave on Feb. 25 when it was notified of the investigation. Her last day of employment with the office was March 9. The agency added that it "will take appropriate action" if it finds her conduct impacted any particular case.

A new statement from the office on Friday said "there has been no disclosure of any connection between Ms. Sampson's work in this Office and her alleged criminal activity," but it will continue an internal investigation and support the external one.

"When I became the Anoka County Attorney in 2023, I could never have imagined inheriting a public attorney in the Office who would face such serious allegations of criminal activity," Brad Johnson said. "The alleged conduct is offensive to both the legal profession and the mission of our Office. It is our solemn duty to continue to determine whether there is credible evidence that Ms. Sampson's conduct adversely affected any case or cases handled by our Office."

Moriarty said Reeves, Sampson, Komonash and Thomes were all taken into custody without incident on Friday.

"It's a really troubling, and in some ways startling case"

Marvin Steele, who previously worked for Sampson, says he noticed strange behavior at his job with Homefelt Assisted Living.

"It was mostly communication through text message. She only came to pickup the clients and take them to an appointment. That's the only time you'll see her, really," Steele said. "It was known one of the clients does occasionally go and get a prostitute every now and then."

Steele says Sampson always touted herself as doing everything by the book.

"She loves to talk about how she does everything legally. She's a lawyer, knows what she's doing. She knows the law. It was funny to find out she's not doing everything legally," he said.

Rachel Moran, a professor of law and director of clinical education at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, says this case is unusual and disturbing.

"It's a really troubling and in some ways startling case," Moran said. "I absolutely think Anoka County Attorney's Office has an obligation to look at everything she was involved in."

Moran says considering Sampson's position, justice and accountability are of upmost importance.

"If someone in a position of power is involved in criminal activity, whether they're using their position of power or not, then certainly they should be held accountable," she said.

Anyone who suspects a trafficking situation should call the BCA at 877-996-6222 or email bca.tips@state.mn.us. You can also call the Day One Hotline at 866-223-1111 or contact them online if you or someone you know is being trafficked. Survivors and victims of human trafficking can call 888-373-7888 to reach the National Human Trafficking Hotline, or text HELP to 233733. 

If you know of a child who may have been a victim of exploitation, call the National Center for Missing or Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or visit the website.