A New York City gastroenterologist was indicted Thursday on 50 counts of rape and sexual assault — including against women patients at a Queens hospital — in an indictment unsealed today by prosecutors. Zhi Alan Cheng, 33, formerly at New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital — where he also allegedly raped three women in his Astoria apartment between June 2020 and December 2022 — sexually abused three patients while he was a doctor there from 2013 to 2018, and videotaped one patient being drugged and raped after taking her to his apartment.

The new indictment says that in his recordings, Cheng himself was using drugs to sedate and assault women with videos discovered by one victim in his apartment. Drugs found during a search included those like fentanyl, ketamine, cocaine and hospital sedatives. Video of Cheng abusing patients, some seriously ill, is also in the evidence.

District attorney Vincent Giancola said there is more video evidence of Cheng’s assaults in other locations. Legal action was taken against the hospital for allegedly not addressing the issue. New York-Presbyterian had condemned Cheng’s actions and said they had taken immediate action once aware of the allegations. He was charged with numerous offenses, including sexual assault, rape and unlawful surveillance. If convicted, he faces sentences ranging from 25 years to life in prison.

The district attorney assured determination to achieve justice for the victims and showed condemnation of Cheng’s actions as a breach in trust and human behavior.