Sharon man among 409 arrested over four years by Columbiana Coun

Sharon is one of 409 people arrested on human trafficking charges in Columbiana County over four years

Salim Basalat

A Mercer County man and another man from suburban Cleveland are the latest to be arrested in Columbiana County as part of an ongoing undercover sex trafficking operation that has resulted in more than 400 arrests in nearly four years.

Salim Basalat, 37, of Sharon, and Michael Durant, 63, of Solon, Ohio, were arrested Thursday in East Palestine by the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force.

An agent says the men were responding to undercover ads posted by the task force on websites used in the sex trade.

According to court documents, the suspects were arrested in the village when they showed up at an agreed location and time. Each had $200 on them, and cell phone agents said they were used to make the appointments.

Basalat and Durant were each charged with prostitution and possession of criminal tools. Basalat was also charged with procuring because he allegedly sought a “threesome” for himself, his brother and a prostitute.

Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges and face further hearings in Columbiana County Municipal Court.

The undercover sex sting operation results in an average of two arrests per week.

According to court records, there have been 409 arrests for prostitution in the county since June 2021. Most of the arrests occurred in East Palestine and Salem.

The Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force says on its Facebook page that it is committed to eliminating what it calls “modern slavery” and protecting our children from sexual predators.