LISBON — Of the nine men arrested in a sex trafficking sting last week in Beaver Township, three are from Columbiana County.

According to information released by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and Mahoning County Sheriff Jerry Greene on Tuesday, Michael Canaday, 53, of East Palestine, and Jamie Webb, 31, and Paul McHugh II, 32, both of Salem, were arrested in the undercover operation along with six other men from Pennsylvania, Youngstown and Berlin Center.

Webb was the only one charged with attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, importuning, possession of criminal tools and attempted sexual imposition.

The rest were charged with soliciting, according to the press release.

Jill Del Greco of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office said the arrests were made after the men each showed up at a park in Beaver Township during the undercover investigation that was designated as a meeting area by undercover agents working the case.

“What we have seen is a significant portion of this type of thing occurs at parks. In working with the partnering agencies it was determined that would be a location that would work for this undercover operation,” Greco said.

She did not wish to disclose specifically which park was used for the operation, but did say that at least two dozen officers were present at the time.

“We had eyes on these people at all times as soon as they entered the park,” she said of the men who were subsequently arrested. “We felt that those at the park were safe. At any time if we felt anyone was in danger we would have called off the operation.”

The men allegedly agreed to meet at the park after exchanging messages with undercover agents in response to an online advertisement posted by law enforcement, officials said.

With the exception of Webb, who allegedly arranged to meet with what he believed to be a 15-year-old girl, the other men allegedly arranged for a sexual encounter for-hire with an adult female, they said.

Webb was taken in custody when he arrived at the park for the arranged meeting and the other eight men were arrested for soliciting when they arrived for their arranged meetings.

“This is something that could occur anywhere, in any jurisdiction, in any community,” Greco said. “With this initiative it was an effort to try and reduce the demand. You have people who are willing to pay for this kind of thing.”

She added that investigators have generally seen people pay anywhere between $30 to $1,000 for an arranged sexual encounter.

She said the undercover operations are a way to reduce the demand and sway other people from committing sex trafficking crimes in the future.

“The demand for the sex trade is a major driving force behind human trafficking, and that is why undercover operations like this are so important,” DeWine said in the announcement. “We want would-be purchasers of sex to remember that they could be arranging to meet with law enforcement.”

Others arrested in the sting were:

Sohail Awan, 31, Youngstown

Joseph Geraci, 61, Verona, Pa.

Ryan Grossman, 42, Aliquippa, Pa.

Gary Harmon, 46, New Castle, Pa.

Charles Hart, 63, Cochranton, Pa.

Christopher Jones, 42, Berlin Center

Officials said that Hart and Canaday were also arrested on charges of possessing criminal tools while Awan was also arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance and illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia.

The recent investigation was conducted by the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, Ohio Attorney General DeWine’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation Crimes Against Children Unit, Austintown Police Department, Beaver Township Police Department, Ohio Adult Parole Authority, Mahoning County Emergency Management Administration, Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office, New Middletown Police Department, Ohio Investigative Unit, and the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

Officials said additional undercover operations are planned in the future.

“We would very much urge that if people see what they believe is suspicious activity to contact their local law enforcement agency. Tips are very important in cases like these,” Greco said. “A lot of human trafficking investigations do start when law enforcement receives a tip on something that seems suspicious.”

kwhite@mojonews.com