Astoria, Queens doctor rape case: Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng pleads guilty to drugging and sexually assaulting patients in New York
Share this @internewscast.com

QUEENS — A 35-year-old gastroenterologist, Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng, confessed to numerous charges involving rape and sexual abuse, targeting both acquaintances and female patients at the hospital. This was announced by Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz on Monday.

Living in Astoria, Cheng initially faced a 50-count indictment in August 2023 for his criminal acts. More charges followed in March 2024 after another victim from the hospital came forward with allegations.

He acknowledged that he recorded the assaults on victims while they were unconscious, both in his apartment and at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens hospital, occurring between 2020 and 2022. Cheng pleaded guilty to seven charges associated with rape and sexual abuse, and agreed to an Alford plea for an additional count of sexual abuse.

Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit Durant is expected to sentence him to 24 years in prison on Aug. 28.

“The level of violence and perversion displayed by Zhi Alan Cheng in sexually abusing multiple victims is compounded by the fact that he took an oath to do no harm as a medical professional,” Katz said. “I thank the brave victim who initially came forward and exposed this abuse. We hope the guilty plea allows all the victims to continue to heal.”

Cheng has been held without bail since his 2022 arrest.

His ability to practice medicine has been suspended by the state.

Cheng was arrested on Dec. 27, 2022, after a female aquaintance who was raped in his apartment, known as “Apartment Victim 1,” discovered videos depicting her and other women being assaulted by the doctor.

A search warrant led to the discovery of numerous digital media storage devices that contained videos of him sexually abusing unconscious female hospital patients, as well as Cheng’s female acquaintances. Authorities also seized a slew of drugs, including fentanyl, ketamine, cocaine, LSD and MDMA, as well as medical sedation drugs such as propofol and sevoflurane.

“The recovered evidence compiled paints the picture of a sexual predator of the absolute worst kind, a serial rapist, someone willing to not only violate his sacred professional oath and patients’ trust, but every standard of human decency, as well,” Katz said.

Copyright © 2025 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Time-lapse of the Llano River in Texas rapidly flooding a road.

Shocking Video Captures Texas River Engulfing Bridge in 2 Minutes; 51 Dead and 27 Children Missing

WATCH the terrifying video of a Texas river swallowing a whole bridge…
Netanyahu and Trump to meet in DC as Gaza’s fate without Hamas is debated

Netanyahu and Trump’s DC Meeting to Discuss Gaza’s Future in a Post-Hamas Context

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are scheduled to…
Hilliard man recounts springing into action after neighbor on motorcycle hit by 14-year-old ATV driver

Hilliard Resident Describes Quickly Responding After Neighbor’s Motorcycle Accident with 14-Year-Old ATV Rider

The Florida Highway Patrol reported that a man was killed near his…
Michael Kay claps back at 'fawning fanboy' Blue Jays broadcaster

Michael Kay Responds to Criticism from Blue Jays Broadcaster

After being taunted with a broom, Michael Kay dropped a hammer. Kay,…
Daughter of Irish man beaten to death by American wife, her ex-FBI agent father rejects self-defense claims

Irish Man’s Daughter Rejects Self-Defense Claims After American Wife Allegedly Beats Him to Death; Ex-FBI Agent Father Supports Her

A new documentary raises questions about the 2015 murder of an Irish-born…
Crime scene with numbered markers.

Nine Dead and 93 Injured, Including Children, During Fourth of July Violence, Marking One of the Year’s Deadliest Days

AT least nine people have died and 93 are injured after violence…
Australian Erin Patterson found guilty of all counts in mushroom murders case

Erin Patterson from Australia Convicted on All Charges in Mushroom Murder Case

An Australian woman was convicted on Monday for the murder of three…
IDF personnel surveying damage at a missile attack site.

Inside Israel’s Frontline Rescue Team: From Extracting Families from Debris to Evading Iranian Missiles

IT’S the dead of night when Captain Yehudit’s phone suddenly starts ringing.…
Texas school gathers supplies to help flood-impacted locals after spotlight moves on

Texas School Collects Supplies to Support Flood-Affected Community After Media Spotlight Shifts

As families in the Texas Hill Country struggle with the aftermath of…
Texas weather: Massive recovery efforts underway in Kerr County following catastrophic flooding in Central Texas

Texas Weather Update: Extensive Recovery Efforts Ongoing in Kerr County After Severe Central Texas Floods

In Kerr County, Texas, rescue teams searched through a devastated landscape on…
Angela Rayner speaking at the Local Government Association annual conference.

Rayner’s Proposal Enlists ‘Banter Police’ to Monitor Workplace Conversations for Inappropriate Content

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is facing criticism for allegedly attempting to…
Dalai Lama, a global symbol of Tibetan culture and resistance, turns 90

Dalai Lama Celebrates 90th Birthday as Icon of Tibetan Heritage and Resilience

In the Himalayan town of Dharamshala, India, the Dalai Lama celebrated his…