A Queens doctor who filmed himself raping unconscious patients received only 24 years in prison despite overwhelming video evidence, sparking outrage from survivors who blast the DA’s office for prioritizing plea deals over justice.
Story Highlights
- Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng sentenced to 24 years for raping sedated patients and drugged acquaintances
- Thousands of hours of video evidence documented his crimes at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens
- Survivors forced to watch assault videos to identify themselves during investigation
- Attorney blasts Queens DA’s pattern of plea deals regardless of evidence strength
Predator Doctor’s Shocking Crime Spree
Dr. Zhi Alan Cheng operated as a predator in plain sight at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, systematically recording himself sexually assaulting unconscious female patients and drugged acquaintances. The former gastroenterologist’s arrest on December 27, 2022, launched an investigation that uncovered thousands of hours of video evidence documenting his heinous crimes. Cheng filmed himself groping sedated patients during medical procedures and raping women he met on dating sites after drugging them at his apartment.
Survivors Traumatized by Justice System
The investigation process inflicted additional trauma on victims, who were forced to watch videos of their own assaults to help prosecutors identify them. Multiple women discovered they had been victimized only after viewing the disturbing footage during the legal proceedings. This retraumatization highlights the callous disregard for victims’ dignity throughout the process, adding insult to injury for women who trusted this medical professional with their care.
Plea Deal Controversy Exposes Prosecutorial Weakness
Despite possessing ironclad video evidence of multiple rapes and sexual assaults, Queens DA Melinda Katz’s office negotiated a plea deal that survivors and their attorney Nicholas Liakas condemned as inadequate. Cheng pleaded guilty to multiple rape and sexual abuse counts on June 30, 2025, receiving 24 years in prison plus 10 years supervised release. Liakas publicly criticized the DA’s office, stating “There’s always a deal to be made in this District Attorney’s office, no matter how good the evidence is.”
Pattern of Leniency Undermines Justice
The Cheng case exemplifies a troubling pattern in Queens where prosecutors prioritize convenient plea agreements over maximum punishment, even when evidence is overwhelming. This soft-on-crime approach emboldens predators and sends a dangerous message that sexual assault won’t face full consequences. Conservative Americans rightfully question why taxpayer-funded prosecutors would negotiate down charges when victims deserve the harshest possible penalties for such egregious violations of trust and human dignity.
Queens DA Melinda Katz thinks 3.42 years per 7 rape victims of a Chinese doctor is sufficient punishment. She’s as EVIL as Dr. Cheng. https://t.co/xS6Xrvoq5I pic.twitter.com/THhszQeLGc
— Ms. Pistolicious (@mspistolicious) September 2, 2025
Judge Ushir Pandit-Durant sentenced Cheng on August 28, 2025, also requiring him to register as a sex offender upon release. While the sentence removes this dangerous predator from society for decades, survivors argue the plea deal sets a precedent that undermines justice for future sex crime victims in Queens.
Sources:
Queens Eagle – Victims Blast Prison Sentence for Doctor Who Raped Patients
Queens District Attorney’s Office – Cheng Zhi Plea Agreement
Queens District Attorney’s Office News
