A Texas man allegedly forced an adolescent girl who ran away from a group home to have sex with 20 people, including his brother, nicknamed “Big Face Tulu.”
Tyrone Berry, 58, is accused of human trafficking and sexual assault on a juvenile. According to a probable cause document, Harris County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a Walmart at 13003 SH 249 in Houston in June 2019 for a juvenile runaway.
The girl then told detectives that she fled the group home and landed up at the $39.99-per-night North Villa Inn, where Berry allegedly forced her to “work” for food. She stated that Berry worked at the hotel, according to the lawsuit.
The child claimed that Berry would organize “dates” with men and “tell her what to do.” She would then have intercourse with the men in exchange for money, but she never received any of it, according to the affidavit. The girl stated that Berry would instead offer her food.
Berry also showed her his home and his brother Otis Berry’s music studio. She was allegedly forced to have sex with Otis Berry, aka “Big Face Tulu,” and 20 other men. Tyrone Berry also supplied the girl with drugs, according to the affidavit.
Detectives went to the hotel to collect evidence, and Tyrone Berry acknowledged to speaking with the girl. The girl also recognized him in a photo lineup, according to the allegation. Deputies detained him in November 2019, but prosecutors withdrew the charges in March 2022 because they did not believe they could prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
However, prosecutors refiled charges this week, and police apprehended him.
In November 2019, cops acquired an arrest warrant for 54-year-old Otis Berry on charges of juvenile sexual abuse, inducing prostitution, and human trafficking. He evaded capture for two months until surrendering to authorities in January 2020. In an interview with the television channel, he blamed his brother for getting him into trouble.
“I’m really anxious to get my name cleared, and my story heard,” he said.
In February, a grand jury indicted him on charges of human trafficking in the same case. He has since bonded out of jail. His trial is slated for next month.
Tyrone Berry remains in Harris County Jail on a $50,000 bail. According to the Texas Sex Offender registry, he was convicted of sexually abusing a kid in 1994 and 2006.