Overview
- Andrea Leigh Sampson was arrested and formally charged on Aug. 14 with 13 counts of promoting prostitution and 13 counts of receiving profits from prostitution and is in Hennepin County custody with a first court date set for Aug. 17.
- Court filings say a multi‑agency probe that began in 2021 found at least 13 victims and alleged the group ran a website called “Minnesota Erotica Personals” to post women for commercial sex.
- The complaint alleges Sampson helped create and maintain multiple LLCs that acted as apparent shell companies and provided Minneapolis properties where victim photos were taken and some transactions occurred.
- Victim interviews cited in the filing describe recruitment, fee collection, monitoring and threats, including reports that a man with a gun was used to intimidate victims at times.
- The Anoka County Attorney’s Office says it was notified of the probe on Feb. 25, placed Sampson on administrative leave, and her last day of employment was March 9; next steps include prosecution, discovery and possible further charges as investigators continue work.