Undercover sting in Alliance ends in arrests of two suspected prostitutes and a pimp

Two alleged prostitutes and a pimp were arrested after a two-month investigation into a website listing Alliance as a service area.

The sting happened Wednesday night and involved the Alliance, Sebring, Smith Township and Akron police departments.

Alliance police said they received tips that women were placing ads that appeared to be for prostitution on websites, primarily on backpage.com – a free classifieds site.

Through their investigation, officers identified several people who were posting those advertisements in Alliance, as well as some in Sebring and Smith Township.

So on Wednesday, an undercover officer placed calls from an Alliance motel in response to the ads. As a result, two women were arrested after police said they came to the hotel and offered the officer sex in exchange for money. A man allegedly working as one woman's pimp was also taken into custody.

Here are those arrested and their charges:

Melanie Sobek, 38, of Alliance
-- Soliciting
-- Possessing criminal tools
-- Driving under suspension

Bonnie Lischak, 31, of Akron
-- Soliciting
-- Possessing criminal tools
-- Possession of drug abuse instruments
-- Trafficking in heroin

Donnie Antoine, 58, of Akron
-- Promoting prostitution

Police said Antoine provided transportation for Lischak to get the motel and is believed to control her “activities and profits.”

Sobek was booked and released pending a Dec. 5 court appearance. Lischak and Antoine were taken to the Stark County Jail after failing to post bond. Their court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 2.