Houston pilot accused of running brothels

By Brian Rogers  |  Houston Chronicle

 A United Airlines pilot has been arrested and accused of running a string of brothels in apartment complexes and office buildings throughout Houston.

Bruce Wayne Wallis, 51, was charged with aggravated promotion of prostitution and engaging in criminal activity in what officials said included about a half-dozen brothels in Galleria-area apartments and northwest Houston office buildings with six to 10 women.

Assistant Harris County District Attorney Lester Blizzard said the criminal operation was “massive.”

“It’s the largest operation that I’ve ever worked on,” he said. “(District Attorney) Devon Anderson’s office takes these types of complex organized criminal activity cases seriously.”

Court records show that investigators believe the women advertised online and paid Wallis $400 a week to ply their trade. He’s also accused of recruiting five women at time and having sex with them before putting them to work as prostitutes. Several of the women appeared to be Russian.

Officials with United confirmed that Wallis was an employee and said he had been taken off of flying duties.

Also charged is an alleged top lieutenant to Wallis. Tracie Tanner, 37, of Rosenberg, is facing charges of aggravated promotion of prostitution. Eighteen other women were also charged with prostitution after the eight-month investigation.

Wallis is also accused of using Eastex Aero, his flight school and charter service in Porter, north of Houston, as a front to make sure the women who worked for him had a “legitimate” employment records and financial statements, according to court records.

If convicted, Wallis faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Tanner faces up to 10 years in prison.

Prosecutor Blizzard said 26 search warrants were served this week in a flurry of activity culminating Wednesday with Wallis’s arrest. No clients were arrested, he said.

Blizzard credited investigators with the Texas Department Public Safety and the human trafficking division of the Houston Police Department for cracking the case.