YOUNGSTOWN - A prison sentence has been handed down to one of the 34 people who were arrested last summer during a two-month-long sex sting operation conducted by the Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force.

James Smalley, 52, of Salem appeared in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court on Wednesday, where he was ordered to spend the next nine months in prison.

Smalley, who pleaded guilty in November to importuning, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, and possession of criminal tools, has also been declared a Tier Two Sex Offender.

Sheriff Jerry Greene told 21 News in August that the arrests were made during Operation Full Court Press in a crackdown on predators seeking to engage in sexual activity with children online.

"We started looking for people that were basically trolling the internet looking for underage boys or girls to have sex with," Greene told 21 News. "Either to hook up with, or for money or types of prostitution."

Federal, state, and other law enforcement agencies were involved in the investigation.