A registered sex offender and a man convicted of attempted murder were among the seven men arrested during a Knoxville prostitution sting.
The undercover operation took place at a West Knoxville hotel Wednesday night and included the Knox County Sheriff's Office Vice Unit and three federal agents with Homeland Security.
All seven men were charged with patronizing prostitution.
KCSO said one of the men they arrested, Ronald D. Yelen, 38, of Maryville, was convicted in 2011 of two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor with 9 victims.
Another one of the arrestees, Todji K. Martin, 34, of Knoxville, has a criminal history that includes three convictions in Knox County for attempted second degree murder.
The other five men arrested in the prostitution sting were: David A. Kerr, 73, of Louisville; Timothy J. Britton, 50, of Blaine; Richard D. Montgomery, 57, Johnson City; Van T. Tran, 22, of Knoxville; and Carmelino Escobedo-Lopez of Lenoir City.
KCSO said many of the hotels and motels in Knox County request the Vice Unit to come to their establishments to help stop the illegal activity.
