Woman Who Held Mentally Disabled Adults In Dungeon Sentence

Prosecutors said Weston, 55, and her accomplices victimised six mentally disabled adults and four children at homes in Philadelphia, Texas, Virginia and Florida from 2001 to October 2011.

The woman who admitted keeping four mentally disabled adults captive in the "dungeon" basement of a Philadelphia home has been sentenced to life in prison - plus 80 years.

Linda Weston, from Philadelphia, pleaded guilty in September to all 196 counts against her including murder in aid of racketeering, sex trafficking and kidnapping in a deal that spared her a possible death sentence.

The group lured victims who were estranged from their families by offering them a place to live, said the US Justice Department.

After convincing them to move in, Weston and others collected their disability and social security cheques, prosecutors added.

Victims were confined to locked rooms, basements, closets, attics and apartments that were often dark and isolated, and sedatives were put in their food.

Some were tortured with beatings and burnings if they tried to escape or protest, officials claimed, adding two imprisoned women died of starvation and bacterial infections.

The other captives was rescued by police in October 2011 after a landlord at a building where victims were held reported suspicious activity in a basement to police.

Weston's victims testified in person in court or on video.

Among them were her niece, Beatrice, 23, who said her aunt beat her, adding: "I walk around with scars. Every day, I just think about her beating me. She got what she deserved."

Drwin McLemire, 46, whose left ankle was chained to a basement boiler around the clock, said: "I don't know what they're going to do to you, but it should be the death penalty."

Tamara Breeden, 33, who was starved and forced to drink her own urine for 10 years, said: "She was just crazy. I was sad and crying."

Weston told US District Judge Cynthia M Rufe: "I am sorry. I believe in God and God knows what happened."

The judge said: "Her future years in federal prison will be paradise compared to the conditions she imposed on her victims."