Former USC Student from China Faces Serious Allegations of Multiple Drug-Facilitated Assaults

A Chinese student studying in the United States has been charged with drugging and sexually assaulting multiple women over a period of three years, according to prosecutors on Wednesday.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office revealed that Sizhe “Steven” Weng, a 30-year-old Chinese national enrolled in a doctoral program at the University of Southern California (USC), is facing felony charges.

Weng allegedly administered incapacitating drugs to victims through their food or drinks before committing assaults from 2021 to 2024. He is charged with eight felonies, including forcible rape, rape and sodomy using controlled substances, and sexual penetration with the use of anesthesia or drugs.

Los Angeles police shared that their investigation began in January after receiving a tip-off from German authorities, who suspected Weng might be connected to a series of similar assaults in Germany, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton said that authorities believe that Weng was an “opportunist” who drugged his victims before allegedly sexually assaulting them. 

“Evidence was recovered at Weng’s residence that corroborated his involvement in drug-facilitated sexual assaults of multiple victims dating back to 2021 and continuing into 2025,” he said.

Weng was arrested Aug. 28 and pleaded not guilty at a Sept. 2 arraignment, court records show. He is being held without bail pending a preliminary hearing set for Jan. 14, 2026, at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles. Prosecutors said three women have been identified so far, but investigators believe there may be additional victims.

If convicted as charged, Weng faces 25 years to life plus 56 years in California state prison. He would be required to register as a sex offender for life. The district attorney’s office asked any other possible victims to come forward.

The LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division is handling the investigation.

A USC spokesperson said the university is cooperating fully with law enforcement and that Weng “has been barred from campus” during the ongoing investigation. The DA’s office urged anyone with information to call detectives at 213-486-6890.

“No one should ever have to endure the trauma of being drugged, sexually assaulted and stripped of their ability to consent,” Hochman said in a statement.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office for comment.