On June 30, Chinese-American doctor Zhi Alan Cheng from Queens, who was suspected of sexually assaulting multiple female patients and dating partners after administering sedatives, pleaded guilty to eight sexual offense charges in the Queens Superior Court. The judge is expected to sentence him to 24 years in prison on Thursday, August 28, plus 10 years of post-release supervision.
Court records show that 34-year-old Cheng Zhi worked in the gastroenterology department of NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital in Queens. He was suspected of sexually assaulting multiple female patients and dating partners after administering sedatives in hospital wards and at his residence in Queens since 2020, and used his mobile phone to record the incident. Police seized numerous hard drives and several medical anesthetics at his residence, including propofol and sevoflurane.
The case originally consisted of three indictments, which were later combined by the court. Cheng Zhi eventually pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree rape and three counts of first-degree sexual abuse, and pleaded guilty to one of the sexual abuse charges by “accepting the court’s guilty verdict without admitting the crime” (Alford plea). The sentences for all charges will be served concurrently, totaling 24 years, and he must undergo 10 years of post-release supervision registration.
During the trial, the prosecutor stated the contents of the eight charges one by one, and Cheng Zhi confirmed the facts in court. Regarding three female patients, he admitted that he entered the ward as a doctor between 2021 and 2022, touched the patient’s chest and genitals while he was unconscious, and recorded the video with his mobile phone. When the prosecutor asked questions such as “whether he knew that the other party could not consent at the time”, he admitted that the behavior was true and there was no medical necessity.
The four rape charges occurred at his residence, and most of the victims were women he met on dating apps. The court statement pointed out that Cheng Zhi had sex with the other party after he lost consciousness, and three of the cases were recorded. He admitted that he was aware that the other party was unable to give consent at the time of the incident.
The only accusation that adopted “Alford plea” came from a female patient in 2021. The woman said that after waking up from the operation, she found that Cheng Zhi had inserted his fingers into her vagina. The prosecutor pointed out that although there was no video recording, there were witness testimony and medical records. Cheng Zhi said that he had no clear memory and it might be part of the medical treatment, but after understanding the evidence of the prosecutor, he chose to accept the conviction and sentencing.
Queens Supreme Court Judge Ushir Pandit-Durant clearly reminded Cheng Zhi at the end of the trial that if he was not a US citizen, this guilty plea could have a significant impact on his immigration status, including deportation. Cheng Zhi replied that he understood and was willing to continue to plead guilty. Although the court did not directly confirm his nationality, this conversation showed that his plea agreement had covered the relevant immigration consequences.
The court also confirmed that the defendant had waived his right to appeal with the assistance of his lawyer, and all evidence had been delivered without procedural flaws. The judge is scheduled to pronounce the sentence on Thursday, August 28. The prosecutor said that a victim statement and an application for a protection order will be submitted at that time, and further processing will be carried out according to the circumstances.
