July 1, 2025 Queens, NY – In a disturbing case that has shocked the medical community and beyond, Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng, a 35-year-old gastroenterologist from Astoria, has pleaded guilty to multiple counts of rape and sexual abuse. The charges stem from a series of heinous assaults against both acquaintances and vulnerable female patients at New York-Presbyterian Queens hospital.

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the guilty plea on Monday, bringing a measure of justice to the victims of Cheng's horrific crimes.

A Pattern of Predation Uncovered

Cheng's criminal activity first came to light in August 2023, when he was hit with a staggering 50-count indictment. The scope of his depravity expanded further in March 2024, as additional charges were filed after another brave hospital victim stepped forward.

The court heard chilling details of Cheng's admissions: he confessed to filming the abuse of unconscious victims in both his private apartment and within the hospital walls between 2020 and 2022. His guilty plea encompasses seven counts related to rape and sexual abuse, with an additional Alford plea for one count of sexual abuse. An Alford plea allows a defendant to plead guilty while still maintaining their innocence, acknowledging that the prosecution has enough evidence for a conviction.

Justice Looms for Dr. Cheng

Queens Supreme Court Justice Ushir Pandit Durant is slated to hand down Cheng's sentence on August 28th. He is expected to receive a substantial 24-year prison term, a sentence that reflects the severity and depravity of his actions. Cheng has been held without bail since his arrest in December 2022. His medical license has been suspended by the state, ensuring he can never again betray the trust placed in medical professionals.

"A Sexual Predator of the Absolute Worst Kind"

District Attorney Melinda Katz did not mince words when describing Cheng's egregious betrayal of his professional oath. "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 stated. She extended her gratitude to the initial victim whose courage brought Cheng's reign of terror to an end. "We hope the guilty plea allows all the victims to continue to heal."

The investigation that led to Cheng's downfall began on December 27, 2022. It was sparked by a female acquaintance, identified as "Apartment Victim 1," who discovered disturbing videos depicting herself and other women being assaulted by the doctor in his apartment.

A subsequent search warrant executed at Cheng's residence unearthed a trove of digital media storage devices. These devices contained irrefutable video evidence of him sexually abusing unconscious female hospital patients, alongside his female acquaintances. Authorities also seized a dangerous cache of drugs, including Fentanyl, Ketamine, Cocaine, LSD, and MDMA, as well as powerful medical sedation drugs like 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 concluded.

This breaking news story will continue to be updated as more information becomes available. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families as they continue their healing process.