Queens Prosecutors Add More Charges Against Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng in Ongoing Sex Crimes Case
Queens prosecutors have expanded the list of charges against Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng, a gastroenterologist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Queens, with new allegations of sexual abuse involving a 48-year-old woman. The latest accusations are part of a third indictment filed against the doctor, bringing the total number of charges to over 60.
The woman claims that in November 2021, she was sedated for a routine colonoscopy at the hospital and woke up to find Dr. Cheng sexually abusing her. In an exclusive interview with the I-Team last fall, the alleged victim described her experience, stating that she had been in the recovery area with drawn curtains when Cheng performed an inappropriate vaginal exam.
“I know myself that gastroenterology and gynecology don’t go together,” the woman told reporters, expressing her shock and disbelief at the encounter. Despite trying to push the disturbing memory aside, she said seeing news reports about Cheng’s prior indictments prompted her to come forward and report the incident to authorities.
Her attorney, Nicholas Liakas, has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the woman and several other victims who claim that New York-Presbyterian Hospital failed to act on warning signs of Cheng’s predatory behavior. Liakas criticized the hospital for its lack of action following earlier complaints about the doctor’s conduct.
“The hospital failed on multiple levels, period,” Liakas said, pointing to an incident in the summer of 2021 when a 19-year-old patient of Dr. Cheng reported severe abdominal pain after being sedated with an unknown substance. The patient had suspected misconduct but was not initially investigated. Prosecutors later charged Cheng with raping the 19-year-old and recording the assault on his cell phone inside a hospital exam room.
“Had it been investigated properly at that point, had he been suspended, had his license been revoked at that point, you would have prevented an additional assault that we know of,” Liakas added.
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital issued a statement expressing their regret over the situation. “The crimes detailed in these additional charges are horrific, and we are deeply sorry for all that the victims and their families have endured. We have continued to work with the District Attorney to advance the investigation and see that justice is served,” the statement read.
Cheng has been charged with numerous sex crimes, including the rape and sexual abuse of several women, some of whom were his patients at New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital. He is accused of recording at least 11 victims while they were unconscious or sedated, including some inside the hospital and others in his Queens apartment.
The doctor has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and his attorney has declined to comment on the latest indictments. Cheng is currently being held without bail at Rikers Island.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz condemned Cheng’s actions, calling him a predator who exploited his position of trust to assault vulnerable women. “What we have heard from the victims and seen in the videos is the shocking and horrifying exploitation of women at their most vulnerable,” Katz said. “Taken together, the evidence details the repeated attacks of a sexual predator who time and again betrayed his sworn professional oath and the trust of women who were unable to defend themselves.”
The DA’s office has urged any other potential victims to come forward and contact the Special Victims Bureau. The bureau can be reached at 718-286-6505 or via email.
As the case continues to unfold, many are left questioning how Dr. Cheng was able to continue practicing at the hospital despite multiple red flags. The ongoing investigation and legal proceedings will likely shed more light on the full extent of his alleged crimes.
