Four people are now charged in what's being described as a sprawling sex trafficking ring in Hennepin County

Among those charged is 35-year old Andrea Sampson, a former assistant attorney in Anoka County who prosecutors allege set up shell companies to hide and funnel sex trafficking ring profits.

"When we're talking about commercial sex trafficking, that kind of thing, it really kind of, I think, minimizes what happened and the harm that was done here," says Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty. "No one wants to be involved in a sex trafficking ring. It is something that happens to you."

The others charged are Frank Reeves, Viktoriya Komonash, and Katherine Thomes. All four were taken into custody on Friday.

Prosecutors have identified at least 13 victims, one of which is deceased. And the number of victims is expected to increase, according to Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans.

Evans adds that the perpetrators had an extensive online network to carry out their recruitment and advertisement of victims.

"It's arranged on that, the traffickers arranged that, it's designed to hide their identity in that process, take advantage of the victims through exploitation that they're working on," Evans explains. "I think it outlines in the complaint how some of that exploitation was occurring, but I think the way that this is advertised and carried out, and with this location is a fairly, typical way that is alleged in the complaints here today."

Three of those charged appear in Hennepin County court Monday afternoon, and a fourth is due in court Tuesday.

Moriarty says each defendant faces 26 counts, including promoting prostitution, and receiving funds from prostitution.

"Each of these four individuals played a significant role in the operation of the sex trafficking scheme, and caused significant harm to the 13 victims identified in this complaint, as well as others who were not named," Moriarty said Monday morning.

It's possible additional charges could be filed if more victims come forward.