A former assistant Anoka County attorney has been criminally charged after a multi‑year investigation that alleged she helped operate a sex‑trafficking organization in Hennepin County, court records show.
Andrea Leigh Sampson, 35, faces 13 counts of promoting prostitution of an individual and 13 counts of receiving profits from prostitution, according to a criminal complaint filed Thursday. Authorities said the probe, which included work by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, began in 2021.
Alleged roles and operations
Investigators say the trafficking network was run by a 57‑year‑old man with assistance from Sampson and two other women, ages 30 and 36. The complaint outlines roles that include recruiting women for commercial sex, posting advertisements and collecting and distributing payments.
The 36‑year‑old woman is alleged to have owned and operated a website called Minnesota Erotica Personals, on which women were posted for commercial sex transactions. The complaint states that the older man and the 30‑year‑old woman were "actively involved in recruiting and posting commercial sex advertisements for numerous women," setting appointment rates and collecting money from victims.
Alleged financial scheme
According to the criminal complaint, Sampson used her legal and business knowledge to set up corporations that appeared to act as shell companies to conceal and funnel profits from the organization. Investigators allege proceeds were collected, deposited into accounts and then moved into bank accounts, including those held in the names of corporations Sampson created.
The complaint also alleges that at least two properties in Minneapolis owned by Sampson were used to photograph victims and to facilitate commercial sex transactions.
| Person | Age | Alleged role |
|---|---|---|
| Unidentified man | 57 | Organized operation, recruited and posted advertisements, collected proceeds |
| Andrea Leigh Sampson | 35 | Created/maintained corporations to hide/funnel profits; properties used for photos/transactions |
| Unidentified woman | 36 | Owned/operated website Minnesota Erotica Personals |
| Unidentified woman | 30 | Recruited and posted commercial sex advertisements |
Evidence and victims
The complaint cites phone records, journal entries and other materials gathered during the investigation. Law enforcement said they have interviewed at least 13 women who were offered for commercial sex through the organization.
- Investigation opened in 2021 and included the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
- At least two Minneapolis addresses tied to Sampson were used for photos and transactions, per the complaint.
- Proceeds were allegedly routed through corporate accounts created by Sampson.
Legal status and next steps
Sampson has been charged but, as of the court filing described in the complaint, no trial dates or other court scheduling was included in the documents made public. The complaint is a charging document and the allegations it contains have not been proven in court.
Local public records show Sampson previously served as an assistant county attorney in Anoka County. The criminal complaint does not quote any public statements from Sampson, her attorney or prosecutors beyond the charging allegations. Prosecutors pursuing charges of promoting prostitution and receiving profits from prostitution would need to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused knowingly profited from or promoted commercial sex activity and that victims were exploited in the manner alleged.
Community implications
Allegations that a former public attorney aided an organized sex‑trafficking ring raise concerns about exploitation and the potential misuse of legal and fiduciary knowledge to shield criminal proceeds. Victims' advocates stress the need for services, reporting avenues and coordination among law enforcement agencies to identify and assist survivors.
Anyone with information about the case or who believes they may have been a victim is typically urged to contact local police, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office or the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Victim‑services organizations can provide support, counseling and legal guidance; contact information for those resources is available through county hotlines and state victim‑assistance directories.
The case remains under investigation and will proceed through the criminal justice system. Further details, including potential additional charges or court proceedings, may be released by prosecutors as the matter moves forward.
