Federal officials said, Berry Norman, 32, is charged in a three-count complaint with attempted sex trafficking of two minors and transporting the minors to engage in unlawful sexual activity.
He is scheduled to appear by videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor this afternoon.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
On Feb. 24, 2021, Norman enticed the victims, both minors, to travel with him from Ohio to New Jersey. On Feb. 25, 2021, Norman housed the victims in a hotel in Hudson County.
Norman allegedly attempted to convince the victims to engage in commercial sex acts.
Norman told the victims that they could “get paid” for having sex with men and for performing sexually explicit “shows” on the computer.
The victims declined. On Feb. 27, 2021, Norman engaged in sex acts with one victim.
On Feb. 28, 2021, Norman transported the victims to another hotel in New York. Norman purchased lingerie for the victims.
When they returned to the hotel room, Norman allegedly encouraged the victims to put on the lingerie and perform sexual acts while a computer live-streamed the victims over the Internet. The victims declined again.
Later that evening, one victim observed a laptop that was on and streaming a video of the victims in the hotel room.
The victim contacted a relative for help. In turn, the victim’s relative contacted law enforcement, leading to Norman’s arrest.
Each count of attempting to engage in sex trafficking with a minor and transportation of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity carries a statutory mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.