A former New York gastroenterologist, Zhi Alan Cheng, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison and 10 years of post-release supervision after pleading guilty to multiple sexual assault charges. The announcement came from the Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. Cheng, who also must register as a sex offender, admitted to raping and sexually abusing unconscious women, including both acquaintances and patients at the hospital where he worked. According to a statement obtained by the Queens District Attorney's office, the 35-year-old committed these acts at his Astoria apartment and at New York-Presbyterian Queens.
The investigation into Cheng's crimes began when one of his victims discovered videos on his digital devices portraying her and other women in compromised positions. Following this discovery, the DA's Special Victims Bureau, in collaboration with the New York-Presbyterian Queens, managed to arrest Cheng on December 27, 2022. Cheng was later indicted on over 50 counts related to the sexual abuse of the victims. "Zhi Alan Cheng committed a series of heinous acts against women," Katz said in a press release.
Justice Ushir Pandit-Durant of the Queens Supreme Court sentenced Cheng, mandating that he register as a sex offender for life upon release. Following his admissions and conviction, Cheng’s medical license has been suspended. The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Brianne Richards, Assistant District Attorney Brian C. Hughes (Deputy Bureau Chief), and Assistant District Attorney Matthew Regan, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Eric C. Rosenbaum and Executive Assistant District Attorney for Special Prosecutions Joyce Smith.
Investigators recovered a significant amount of digital media from Cheng’s home, revealing graphic evidence of the crimes he has now confessed to. The footage depicted him sexually assaulting unconscious victims, with the videos recorded by Cheng himself. District Attorney Katz commended the NYPD Special Victims Squad and the Special Victims Bureau for their detailed and persistent work.
