Former gastroenterologist Zhi Alan Cheng, MD, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to seven sexual abuse charges, according to an Aug. 28 news release from Queens County.
What happened?
- Dr. Cheng was arrested on Dec. 27, 2022, and charged with multiple counts of rape, assault and sexual abuse, among other crimes
- In August 2023, Dr. Cheng, who was employed by New York City-based NewYork-Presbyterian Queens from July 2020 to December 2022, was charged with 50 new counts in criminal court for drugging and sexually assaulting several women, including a patient.
- He pleaded guilty June 30 to four counts of rape in the first degree and three counts of sexual abuse in the first degree in satisfaction of the consolidated indictments against him. He additionally entered an Alford plea to one count of sexual abuse.
- He is sentenced to 24 years in prison, 10 years post-release supervision and is required to register as a sex offender.
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