Pilot Running Brothels, Flying for United, Say Prosecutors

A United Airlines pilot accused of running brothels out of apartment units and office buildings around Houston was arrested Wednesday on charges of aggravated promotion of prostitution and engaging in criminal activity, reported the Houston Chronicle.

Bruce Wayne Wallis, 51, who has been taken off "his flying duties" at United Airlines, was accused of using his flight school and charter service, Eastex Aero, as a front while operating a half-dozen brothels in the upscale Galleria-area of Houston and northwest Houston office buildings, said the Chronicle.

"It's the largest operation that I've ever worked on," assistant Harris County district attorney Lester Blizzard told the Chronicle. "(District attorney) Devon Anderson's office takes these types of complex organized criminal activity cases seriously."

Authorities arrested Wallis and 11 other people in the course of 17 raids across Houston in connection with an alleged prostitution ring, reported KPRC-TV. Tracie Rebekah Tanner, 37, was also arrested in the raids and charged with aggravated promotion of prostitution.

Authorities accused Wallis of managing, controlling and supervising more than 20 female prostitutes at the brothels, where they would give him $400 a week to practice their trade, said KPRC-TV.

Bond for Wallis and Tanner was set at $5,000 each, Wallis posted bond and was released Thursday.

Authorities told KHOU-TV they had been investigating Wallis for eight months. Blizzard told the Chronicle that 26 search warrants were served in connection to the ring this week, concluding in Wallis's arrest Wednesday.

United Airlines told the Chronicle that Wallis was an employee there but had been taken off of flying duties. Authorities charged that the Wallis's flight school provided a cover that gave those working for him with "legitimate" employment records and financial statements, according to the newspaper.

"United holds its employees to the highest standard," United said in a statement, according to KPRC-TV. "We are assisting the authorities and have removed Mr. Wallis from his flying duties."

Wallis faces up to 20 years in prison and Tanner 10 years, the Chronicle noted.

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