I dunno, Morwen. I suppose that even pimps can be viewed as folk heroes outside their own culture, but the fact of the matter is that they are in the business of selling the sexual services of women - often against the will of the women involved.
I suppose it all depends on what he did and how he treated the women in his employ. Prostitution is a bad thing - but sometimes, people have no other way to make a living.

-Joe-