Airline pilot charged with running multiple brothels

HOUSTON, March 24 (UPI) -- A United Airlines pilot has been charged with running several brothels in apartment buildings around Houston, reports said.

Bruce Wayne Wallis, 51, of Houston, was charged with aggravated promotion of prostitution and engaging in organized criminal activity, and being held on $15,000 bond, Harris County court records stated.

Wallis allegedly operated about six brothels with about six to 10 women in each brothel, police said. The women were also required to pay Wallis $400 a week. Eighteen women were charged with prostitution and several are believed to be Russian, court documents said.

"It's the largest operation that I've ever worked on," Assistant Harris County District Attorney Lester Blizzard said of the eight-month investigation.

Wallis also allegedly used his flight school and charter service, Eastex Aero, as a front to give the women "legitimate" employment records and financial statements, court records showed.

If convicted, Wallis could face up to 20 years in prison.