A New York City doctor who abused his position of trust to prey on vulnerable women has been sentenced to 24 years in prison.
Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng, 35, a former gastroenterologist at New York-Presbyterian Queens, admitted to sexually assaulting sedated hospital patients as well as drugging and raping women he met online.
Cheng was arrested in late 2022 after a girlfriend reported him for drugging and assaulting her in his Queens apartment. Prosecutors later uncovered disturbing videos showing him molesting unconscious patients as young as 19, as well as raping women who appeared to be drugged in his home.
A search of his apartment also revealed illegal drugs and sedatives such as fentanyl, ketamine, MDMA, propofol, and sevoflurane.
Cheng initially faced more than 50 criminal counts. In June, he pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree rape and three counts of first-degree sexual abuse, leading prosecutors to drop additional charges that could have carried a life sentence.
The plea deal has drawn criticism from survivors and their attorneys, who argued that the 24-year term was too lenient. One survivor said:
“He is getting off light. He can kind of rebuild his life because he’s fairly young. You have this obligation to victims of crime, and you’re just letting people off lightly like this.”
After his release, Cheng will remain under 10 years of post-release supervision and must register as a sex offender for life.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz called the crimes “heinous” and thanked the survivors for their courage in coming forward:
“Zhi Alan Cheng committed a series of heinous acts against women… As a consequence, he will serve over two decades in prison and must register as a sex offender, likely for the rest of his life.”
Despite the conviction, many survivors continue to feel let down by the justice system. Their criticism of the plea deal highlights ongoing concerns about accountability in cases of sexual violence, especially when perpetrators hold positions of power.
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