Former physician sentenced to 24 years for sex crimes

A former New York City gastroenterologist has been sentenced to 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to seven sexual abuse charges.

Zhi Cheng, MD, was arrested on Dec. 27, 2022, and charged with multiple counts of rape, assault and sexual abuse, among other crimes. He was also charged in August 2023 with sexually abusing three patients at New York-Presbyterian Queens hospital and raping three other patients in his home. Prosecutors said he drugged the women and filmed the assaults. The state has suspended his ability to practice medicine.

On June 30, Dr. Cheng pleaded guilty to four counts of rape in the first degree, three counts of sexual abuse in the first degree, and entered an Alford plea to one count of sexual abuse, according to an Aug. 28 district attorney news release. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison, 10 years post-release supervision and is required to register as a sex offender.

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