August 7, 2023
QUEENS, NYC—A gastroenterologist at New York Presbyterian Queens was charged with drugging and sexually assaulting multiple women—including a patient—then filming their unconscious bodies during the assaults.
Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng, 33, was initially arrested in December after his girlfriend claimed he knocked her unconscious at his Astoria apartment using a surgical mask stuffed with cotton balls soaked in an unknown liquid, reports the New York Post.
The girlfriend didn’t remember anything when she awoke but later found a video of Cheng sexually assaulting her—along with footage of other women he assaulted.
Authorities found fentanyl, ketamine, LSD, and surgical anesthesia along with assault footage when they searched Cheng’s apartment.
Cheng was indicted on three counts of rape, ten counts of predatory sexual assault, seven for sexual abuse, and four counts of assaults on Monday, according to The Post.
All of Cheng’s alleged victims are patients and women he was dating.
One patient was 19 years old when she was allegedly assaulted by Cheng at the hospital in Queens. Prosecutors said Cheng gave her an unnecessary rectal exam for her gall bladder treatment, then injected her with liquid and raped her.
Prosecutors are focusing on six women Cheng assault, however, they believe there are more victims. Video evidence suggests Cheng raped at least five other women from New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Thailand.
Cheng pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and is currently being held without bond on Rikers Island.
Feature Screenshot via YouTube