Local sex-trafficker discusses his “business,” while local experts describe the dangers and consequences in the Hub City.
The reality
I wrote this story in spring 2019 for my reporting class. While this was not a story that I wanted to pursue at first, I decided it would be a good package for my original story, “Robert Kraft: Lord of the Rings.” You might get the hint, but to elaborate, the piece was about Kraft’s sex-parlor which was widely discussed after the New England Patriots won Super Bowl LIII.
In fact, this package idea was pitched to me by my news writing professor, Lucinda Holt, at the time. I decided to undertake a sex-trafficking story because we both felt it would be a good idea to investigate this issue in Lubbock. Some possible sources we both suggested were a sex-trafficker, a sex worker, sex-trafficking advocates and an undercover detective. While I fell short of interviewing a sex worker, I was able to schedule interviews with everyone else.
My first interviewee was a sex-trafficker named Sherbrodrick Holloman. I remember calling him with my professor in the room. I left and went to the restroom first to prepare. I came back and dialed his number which I found in police records. We both mutually agreed to meet in person; however, my professor and her husband were both hesitant. I decided to call him back on my own time to cancel the in-person interview because they felt it was “dangerous” and “not worth it.”
I left it at that. I moved on to my next subject which was Chad Wheeler, a sex-trafficking advocate who works for Open Door. After interviewing Wheeler, I had the urge to call back Holloman and meet him that same day. Over the phone, he said he would send me his address to his “place of business.” When I received the text, I quickly emailed my professor to tell her I was going to interview him, and if I had not emailed her back within an hour something went wrong.
When I got there, I parked my truck a building away from Holloman’s, and told an employee what I was doing and if I did not return within the next 30 minutes that something is wrong. He responded with, “Tell him to bring some (women) over here.” As I walked over to his “business” I saw a man who resembled Holloman’s mug shot. I said, “Are you Boss?” According to Holloman, Boss is his “brand name.” He said yes and we began our interview. During the interview I was not permitted to record, just write.
While I was asking questions, he started asking me questions as well. How did I get here, what is this for, he asked. Aside from the questions, there was also someone scoping me out. This was probably to intimidate me or make sure I wasn’t with police. After I got enough information, I thanked him for his time and went back to my truck. I emailed my professor and said everything went fine; she replied quickly and asked me to call her. She said she was scared, but also proud that I interviewed a sex-trafficker. From that point forward, I knew I was about to write something special.
To conclude, there are multiple people I want to thank for helping me produce this story. My professor, Lucinda Holt who instilled me with proper tools to write quality, investigative journalism. Also, everyone that agreed to be interviewed. Every interviewee played an important role in the fluidity of this piece. Finally, Reece Nations, who edited and helped with the publication process.
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