Oregon man accused of kidnapping, sexual assault lived in Michigan briefly in 2017

Andrea May Sahouri, Detroit Free Press
Updated ·2 min read
9

An Oregon man suspected of sexually abusing numerous women in at least four states lived in metro Detroit for several months in 2017, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Negasi Zuberi, 29 — who also goes by the names of Sakima Zuberi, Justin Hyche and Justin Kouassi — was recently charged with interstate kidnapping in Oregon. Zuberi is accused of kidnapping a woman in Seattle in the early hours of July 15 by posing as an undercover cop and soliciting her for prostitution.

This undated photo provided by the FBI's Portland Field Office shows a makeshift cinder-block cell in Klamath Falls, Oregon, allegedly used by 29-year-old Negasi Zuberi to hold a woman prisoner. The FBI said Aug. 1, 2023, police in Reno, Nevada, arrested Zuberi.
This undated photo provided by the FBI's Portland Field Office shows a makeshift cinder-block cell in Klamath Falls, Oregon, allegedly used by 29-year-old Negasi Zuberi to hold a woman prisoner. The FBI said Aug. 1, 2023, police in Reno, Nevada, arrested Zuberi.

Federal investigators say he shackled the woman, raped her, drove her more than 400 miles to his Klamath Falls, Oregon, home, and then locked her up in a makeshift cinder-block cell. The woman managed to escape by pounding on the metal door to her cell until it broke open, allowing her to escape and flag down help.

Zuberi was arrested at a Walmart in Reno, Nevada, on July 16. He was with his wife and one of his children, authorities said. Since then, he has been linked to other sexual assaults in at least four other states. FBI agents believe there are more victims, and is seeking the public's help identifying them.

The FBI said Zuberi has lived in numerous states since 2016, which include: California, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Alabama, and Nevada.

The FBI's Detroit Office confirmed to the Detroit Free Press that Zuberi also lived in Ecorse, Michigan, from April 2017 to September 2017.

Negasi Zuberi, also known as "Sakima," "Justin Hyche," and "Justin Kouassi," in an image released by the FBI. He is accused of sexually assaulting women in multiple states and charged with interstate kidnapping in an Oregon case involving a woman imprisoned in a makeshift cinder-block cell.
Negasi Zuberi, also known as "Sakima," "Justin Hyche," and "Justin Kouassi," in an image released by the FBI. He is accused of sexually assaulting women in multiple states and charged with interstate kidnapping in an Oregon case involving a woman imprisoned in a makeshift cinder-block cell.

Ecorse police have no record of any kidnapping or sexual assault cases against Zuberi during that time.

Zuberi "has several different methods to gain control of his victims, including drugging their drinks, pretending to be a police officer, and soliciting the services of sex workers and then violently sexually assaulting them," the FBI wrote on its website seeking to identify victims and further information.

"Some of the encounters may have been filmed to make it appear as if the assault was consensual. The victims are threatened with retaliation if they notify the police," the FBI wrote.

The FBI is encouraging those who may have been victimized by Zuberi or have information relevant to the investigation to fill out a short form.

Victims' identities will be kept confidential, according to the FBI.

Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. She can be contacted at 313-264-0442, asahouri@freepress.com or on Twitter @andreamsahouri.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Oregon man accused of kidnapping, sexual assault lived in Michigan