A former assistant prosecutor from Minnesota faces 26 felony charges for allegedly helping operate a commercial sex trafficking organization that exploited at least 13 women across the Twin Cities area, authorities said.

Andrea Leigh Sampson, 35, of Fridley, is charged with 13 counts of promoting prostitution and 13 counts of receiving profits from prostitution. Prosecutors filed the charges under seal Aug. 13, and Sampson and three co-defendants were arrested the following day.

Frank Devone Reeves, 57; Viktoriya Sergeyevna Komonash, 30; and Katherine Michelle Thomes, 36, face the same 26 charges, bringing the total number of felony counts against the four defendants to 104, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office said.

Prosecutors allege Reeves led the operation, which the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Minnesota Human Trafficking Investigators Task Force began investigating in 2021. The organization allegedly operated in Minneapolis, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, St. Louis Park and surrounding communities.

Reeves and Komonash allegedly recruited women, arranged commercial sex advertisements, set appointment rates and collected money. Thomes allegedly owned and operated Minnesota Erotica Personals, a website used to advertise the women, according to the criminal complaints.

Sampson allegedly secured locations for commercial sex transactions and created and maintained limited-liability companies used to conceal and funnel proceeds. Investigators identified two properties she owned, in the 3000 block of Harriet Avenue and the 2300 block of University Avenue Northeast in Minneapolis, where women were allegedly photographed for advertisements and commercial sex transactions occurred.

The complaints describe accounts from 13 women who said they were required to pay the organization, often leaving $100 in marked envelopes after each customer. Some reported sexual assaults, being supplied with alcohol and cocaine, hidden surveillance cameras and threats from an armed man when management was displeased.

Stephanie Page, executive director of the Story Foundation, said coercion can exist even when an adult initially agrees to participate.

“It’s force, fraud, or coercion. So maybe an adult victim survivor might say yes to a situation, but they might not know the full extent of what they’re looking at,” Page said.

Sampson worked in the Anoka County Attorney’s Office’s family law and civil divisions. The office said BCA investigators informed its leadership about the criminal investigation Feb. 25. Sampson was immediately placed on administrative leave, her access was terminated and her employment ended March 9. The office said it would take appropriate action if it determined her conduct affected any case.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said investigators believe the operation victimized additional women.

“The BCA and our office will continue to be looking to interview any victims,” Moriarty said. “If any victims see this information, please come forward. We would love to talk to you.”

Sampson’s bail was set at $1 million. Under Minnesota law, each offense carries a possible maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a $40,000 fine or both.

The investigation remains active. The charges are allegations, and all four defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.