A 35-year-old former Assistant Anoka County Attorney in Minnesota, Andrea Leigh Sampson, has been charged with 26 felony counts, including promoting prostitution and receiving profits from it. The charges stem from allegations that Sampson, along with her boyfriend Frank Davone Reeves, 57, used two of her Minneapolis-area homes as locations for prostitution.
According to court filings, Sampson is accused of securing and providing locations for sexual transactions. The homes, located on Harriet Avenue and University Avenue NE, are reportedly worth approximately $690,000 combined. Investigators also claim that alleged victims were photographed at Sampson's homes for 'sex ad postings.' Sampson allegedly created and maintained limited liability companies, described as shell companies, to conceal and funnel profits from these activities.
Sampson, who worked as an Assistant District Attorney for Anoka County until March, was suspended in February. Her LinkedIn profile indicates she had been with the Anoka County Attorney's Office since at least 2016, progressing to the role of Assistant County Attorney by the end of 2017. Her departure from the office occurred in March.
The investigation into the alleged sex trafficking operation began in 2021, conducted by Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the state's Human Trafficking Task Force. Court documents state that fees from victims for postings on an erotic website were transferred into bank accounts associated with the LLCs Sampson established.
Two other individuals, Viktoriya Sergeyevna Komonash, 30, and Katherine Michelle Thomes, 36, are also listed as codefendants. The filing alleges they were involved with Reeves and continued to conduct business for the organization. Thomes reportedly has not been taken into custody.
Several alleged victims have reportedly spoken with law enforcement. According to the probable cause statement, one woman stated she had been prostituted by the group for several years, paying $6 per post on an erotic website, with Komonash assisting in creating the posts. Two other unnamed victims claimed they had to pay the group $100 per customer. A separate victim alleged that Reeves was a pimp and had sexually assaulted her. Another victim reportedly expressed fear of retaliation from the defendants for speaking with law enforcement but stated she had worked for Reeves and Komonash since 2022, including at an autism center.
The investigation also indicated that Sampson, Reeves, and Komonash may have been profiting from assisted living and/or autism sites in addition to the alleged prostitution scheme. Sampson was arrested on Friday and transferred to Hennepin County Jail. She is scheduled for her first court appearance on Monday. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office confirmed the charges but declined further comment. Court records did not indicate if Sampson has legal representation.
Sampson also owned a separate residence, valued at approximately $420,000, which has not been linked to the alleged prostitution ring.