Oregon man who kept women as sex slaves in cinder block cell sentenced to life in prison

31-year-old Negasi Zuberi was handed a life sentence on Friday after being convicted by a federal jury in October 2023 for the charges. Court records revealed that in July 2023, Zuberi lured a woman in Seattle under the guise of soliciting prostitution. Pretending to be an undercover police officer, he showed her a badge, threatened her with a taser, and restrained her using handcuffs and leg irons. He then drove her hundreds of miles to his home in Oregon, where he locked her in a cinder block cell in his garage.

The woman escaped by breaking the door open and fleeing to safety. Zuberi was later apprehended in Nevada after fleeing the state, according to the Associated Press.

“This is not a man who deserves to be around others,” an unnamed victim said at the hearing. “He shows blatant disregard and lack of care for human life.”

Investigators also linked Zuberi to a separate incident in May 2023, where he similarly kidnapped a woman outside a bar in Klamath Falls, Zuberi threatened the woman with a taser and handcuffed her before putting her in his vehicle and committing sexual assault.

Assistant US Attorney Jeffrey Sweet described Zuberi as a “serial predator” during the sentencing.

“Negasi Zuberi is a serial predator who committed acts of evil. He hunted women,” Sweet stated.

Throughout the trial, Zuberi maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty and waiving his right to testify. On the final day of the trial, he attempted to take the stand but was denied. He was ultimately convicted on all charges, which included an attempt to escape custody while awaiting trial.