Chinese doctor in Queens to plead guilty to multiple drug-induced sexual assaults
According to people familiar with the matter, Zhi Alan Cheng, a Chinese doctor suspected of drugging and sexually assaulting multiple women and recording them, is expected to plead guilty to some sexual crime charges in Queens Superior Court on Monday, the 30th, and may face up to 24 years in prison.
According to two people, Cheng Zhi will plead guilty to some charges and accept a sentence of up to 24 years in prison. The case shows that Cheng Zhi, 34, worked at New York Presbyterian Queens Hospital and is suspected of drugging and raping multiple female patients and women he knew in the hospital and his Queens apartment, and filming the sexual assault process with a mobile phone.
Since the case was exposed at the end of 2022, the number of victims and charges has continued to increase. He initially faced nearly 50 charges, and later due to reports from new victims, the charges increased to more than 60, including felonies such as drug rape, first-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse and second-degree assault.
In addition, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz revealed that the videos extracted from Cheng Zhi’s mobile phone showed that he may have sexually assaulted or abused more women in other regions or even overseas, which further expanded the scale and impact of the case. The prosecutor is actively investigating whether Cheng Zhi is involved in more undisclosed crimes.
Nick Liakas, a lawyer representing the four victims, said that criminal confession is only the first step in the pursuit of justice. The victims also filed a lawsuit against the New York Presbyterian Queens Hospital where Cheng Zhi once worked, accusing the hospital management of failing to fulfill their supervisory obligations and failing to promptly stop Cheng Zhi from continuing to contact patients and use narcotics, which contributed to the tragedy.
Liakas said, “Cheng Zhi’s behavior is a serious betrayal of the medical mission. Drugging, sexually assaulting and betraying the trust of patients must be severely punished by law. As the guardian of patient safety, the hospital should have taken action earlier, but their negligence caused more people to suffer. The battle for justice continues.”
A spokesperson for New York Presbyterian Hospital responded, “We are shocked and deeply saddened by Cheng Zhi’s bad behavior. This is a serious betrayal of our medical mission. The hospital has been cooperating with the police and prosecutors in the investigation, committed to ensuring patient safety, and expresses its deepest apologies to all victims and their families.”
