John Jefferson
Left: Tyrone Berry (Harris County Sheriff’s Office). Right: Motel where Berry allegedly sex trafficked a girl (Google Maps).
A Texas man allegedly forced an underage girl who ran away from a group home to have sex with 20 people, including his brother who goes by the nickname “Big Face Tulu.”
Tyrone Berry, 58, is charged with human trafficking and sexual assault of a child. According to a probable cause affidavit, Harris County sheriff’s deputies were called to a Walmart at 13003 SH 249 in Houston in June 2019 for a juvenile runaway. The girl later told detectives that she ran away from the group home and ended up at a $ 39.99-a-night North Villa Inn where Berry allegedly forced her to “work” for food. She said Berry worked at the hotel, per the complaint.
The girl alleged Berry would arrange “dates” with men and “tell her what to do.” She would then have sex with the men in exchange for cash, however, she never saw any of the money, according to the affidavit. The girl said Berry would instead give her food.
Berry also took her to his home and his brother Otis Berry’s recording studio. She was allegedly forced to have sex with Otis Berry, known as “Big Face Tulu,” and 20 other men. Tyrone Berry also supplied the girl with drugs, the affidavit said.
Detectives went to the hotel to collect evidence and Tyrone Berry admitted speaking with the girl. The girl also identified him in a photo lineup, according to the complaint. Deputies arrested him in November 2019, but prosecutors dropped the case in March 2022 because they didn’t think they could prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
But prosecutors refiled charges last week and cops arrested him.
Cops also obtained an arrest warrant for 54-year-old Otis Berry in November 2019 for sexual assault of a child, compelling prostitution and human trafficking. He spent two months on the run before turning himself in to authorities in January 2020, Houston NBC affiliate KPRC reported. In an interview with the TV station, he blamed his brother for getting him in trouble.
“I’m really anxious to get my name cleared, and my story heard,” he said.
A grand jury indicted him for human trafficking in February in the same case. He has since bonded out of jail. His trial is scheduled for next month.
Tyrone Berry remains in the Harris County Jail on a $50,000 bond. According to the Texas sex offender website, he was convicted of sexually assaulting a child in 1994 and 2006.
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