Ray Hagar, Reno Gazette-Journal

There are two ways to look at Lance Gilman of Storey County, Nev., the businessman whose industrial center is set to house Tesla's massive Gigafactory.

To some, he is a major player when it comes to economic development in Nevada, a state that is still clawing its way out of a recession. To others, Gilman is also seen as a flesh peddler — he's owner of the famous Mustang Ranch brothel, legally operated in Storey County just east of Reno.

Gilman is the principal and director of the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center, billed as the largest industrial park in the world. As Storey County Manager Pat Whitten put it, Gilman is "the lead economic engine for Northern Nevada."

Besides Tesla, he's lured major companies to his park, which has become a cash cow of tiny Storey County. The park is located just outside the county limits of the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area and includes companies such as Kal-Kan, Wal-Mart, Dell Computers and Toys R Us. The industrial park is next to coast-to-coast interstate highway and rail systems, so it sells itself. Yet Gilman closes the deals.

He is also an integral part of the negotiations to bring Tesla Motors' $5 billion Gigifactory project to the industrial park he represents.

Meanwhile, Gilman got into the brothel business about a decade ago with his Wild Horse Canyon Ranch brothel. He later bought the Mustang Ranch, which was previously owned by the notorious Joe Conforte — who escaped to Brazil to avoid federal prosecution for tax evasion.

When the Mustang re-opened under Gilman's ownership in 2007, Conforte appeared via live video feed at a grand opening celebration to give a few words and pass the mantle off to Gilman.

When Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told the Nevada Legislature in 2011 it was time to ban legal prostitution in Nevada, he did not mention Gilman by name, but it was apparent who he was speaking about.

After that speech, Gilman said he was the target of the majority leader's concerns over businesses not coming to Nevada because of brothels, but added those concerns were overstated.

"I just read the speech and I am mystified at that quote," Gilman said back in 2011. "It made it appear he is on the attack on Storey County and TRI."

Gilman carries clout for another reason: he's one of three Storey County commissioners, although some residents in the county seat of Virginia City will tell you Gilman doesn't really live in the county.

Last summer, a Storey County jury awarded a $1.3 million judgment to investor Tom Gonzales, who contended Gilman and the Storey County government conspired to bamboozle him out of his share as as secret partner in the Mustang brothel. After winning the the jury's verdict, Gonzales called for the U.S. Justice Department to investigate Gilman and the Storey County government.

Storey County District Attorney Bill Maddox called that allegation "b.s.," but also acknowledged Gilman's influence.

"In retrospect, we might have been manipulated," he said in an interview earlier this year. "You could certainly conclude that from all that has happened, that the county might have been manipulated. If you want to quote me on that, go ahead. It'll probably get me in trouble with Gilman, but so be it."