Athens police, using undercover female officers to work the streets posing as prostitutes, have arrested 11 people over the past three weeks either for soliciting prostitution or possessing and selling illegal drugs.

“We believe prostitution is a big contributor to the drug trade in Athens,” Capt. Marty Bruce said this weekend.

“Many of our prostitutes are drug addicts who are using money they take in off the streets to buy drugs such as crack cocaine and crystal meth to support their drug habit.”

Bruce said prostitution has become a problem in Athens and the undercover operation has been ongoing for the past month. During the operation, the undercover agents were offered money for sex, he said.

“We have been working it for a while and we will continue to work it with undercover agents to curb activities,” Bruce said. “In this operation we targeted three different areas of the city where we know there have been problems in the past.”

Arrested were Jason Daniel Gee, 25, of 1601 West Elm St., charged with first-degree unlawful possession of marijuana; Melvin Mahaley Jr., 53, of 19342 Ruffwood Lane, Athens, charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia and soliciting prostitution; Willie Lee Williams, of 606 U.S. 31, Athens, charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance; Lance Lee Campbell, 31, of 23915 Pressnell Road, Athens, charged with soliciting prostitution, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana.

Seven others were arrested for soliciting prostitution. They include Chad Aaron Petty, 25, of 1307 Tower St., Athens; George J. Prebecin, 64, of 17984 Circle Drive, Athens; Ajustin Leon, 32, of 501 Old Decatur Road, Athens; Gregory Allen Green, 48, of 1404 Parson St., Sheffield; Bobby Joe Langford, 51, of 903 E. Forrest St., Athens; Anthony Quentin Downs, 41, of the Days Inn, Athens; and Reginald Beavers, 40, of 27263 Oakcrest Dr., Athens.

All have posted bail bond and been released from jail, police said.

Bruce said in one instance during the sting, Mahaley is accused of approaching a female agent and offering her money for sex before carrying her back to a local motel where his friend, Willie Williams, was waiting for him.

“When we entered the room they had a crack pipe and Williams, still unknowing that the female was an undercover officer, handed the crack pipe to her telling her to get rid of it.”

In another instance, Bruce said a man pulled up beside another female agent and was talking to her.

“He was intoxicated and had marijuana in his car seat,” he said. “He did not solicit the officer for sex, but as he was driving off she alerted officers that he had marijuana in his vehicle.”

Bruce said Gee was the man police arrested for that crime.

In a third instance, Bruce said Campbell is accused of offering an officer money for sex. He said when Campbell was arrested he (Campbell) had a couple of ounces of marijuana in his possession and bags and scales. Bruce said police believe those bags and scales were used to sell drugs. Campbell also had a large amount of pain killer pills in his possession, Bruce said.

“When we arrested him, we found $5,000 in cash on him,” Bruce said.

Police confiscated the cash because Bruce said it is money agents believe was obtained by selling illegal drugs.

The three areas of Athens police targeted during the investigation included U.S. 31, Washington Street and Hine Street.