Former New York Doctor Pleads Guilty to Drugging and Sexually Assaulting Multiple Patients

Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng, once a respected physician at one of New York City’s leading hospitals, has pleaded guilty to a series of devastating crimes involving the drugging and sexual assault of multiple unconscious women.

On June 30, 2025, Cheng, a 35-year-old gastroenterologist based in Astoria, pleaded guilty in Queens Supreme Court to four counts of first-degree rape and three counts of first-degree sexual abuse. He also entered an Alford plea to an additional sexual abuse charge, meaning he does not admit guilt but acknowledges that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to convict him.

According to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, Cheng drugged and assaulted at least seven women between 2020 and 2022—four of whom were patients at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, and three whom he met through personal connections. Investigators recovered more than 600 videos documenting the abuse. The footage revealed Cheng groping sedated patients during gastrointestinal procedures, digitally penetrating unconscious women, and filming additional assaults in his apartment.

Cheng’s crimes came to light when a female acquaintance discovered footage of her and other women being assaulted and contacted authorities. He was arrested on December 27, 2022, for raping that acquaintance. A search of his apartment uncovered the cache of videos and numerous illegal substances, including ketamine, fentanyl, cocaine, LSD, MDMA, and medical anesthetics such as propofol and sevoflurane, many of which were believed to be used in the assaults.

NewYork-Presbyterian stated that it fully cooperated with the investigation. The hospital later described Cheng’s actions as a “fundamental betrayal” of patient trust and expressed deep regret to those harmed under his care.

The calculated and predatory nature of Cheng’s conduct represents a staggering breach of both professional ethics and institutional responsibility. His sentencing is scheduled for August 28, 2025, and he is expected to serve a 24-year prison term, followed by 15 years of post-release supervision and permanent registration as a sex offender.

At Herman Law, we have stood beside thousands of survivors whose abusers held positions of trust—doctors, teachers, clergy members, and other authority figures. Cases like this highlight the urgent need for institutions to establish real safeguards, act decisively when misconduct occurs, and put survivor safety first.

To the brave individuals who came forward in this case, we commend your courage. Your voices helped bring a predator to justice and will protect others from enduring the same harm.

If you or someone you love was abused by Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng, or experienced sexual abuse in a medical or institutional setting, you are not alone. Contact Herman Law today for a free, confidential consultation. We’re here to listen, support, and fight for you.

Sources

ABC7NY. (2025, July 2). Astoria Queens doctor rape case: Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng pleads guilty to drugging, sexually assaulting patients. https://abc7ny.com/post/astoria-queens-doctor-rape-case-dr-zhi-alan-cheng-pleads-guilty-drugging-sexually-assaulting-patients/16892012/

Associated Press. (2025, July 2). New York City doctor pleads guilty to sexually abusing patients, acquaintances. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/new-york-city-doctor-pleads-guilty-sexually-abusing-123356886

Hirsch, A. (2025, July 2). Queens doctor pleads guilty to drugging and raping patients. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/02/new-york-city-doctor-rape-sexual-abuse

Queens District Attorney’s Office. (2025, July 1). Doctor Pleads Guilty to Raping Multiple Unconscious Acquaintances in His Apartment and Sexually Abusing Patients in the Hospital. https://queensda.org/doctor-pleads-guilty-to-raping-multiple-unconscious-acquaintances-in-his-apartment-and-sexual-abusing-patients-in-the-hospital/