Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz and New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James V. McDonald announced that Dr. QiLi Li was charged with grand larceny and other crimes for misusing nearly $300,000 in state grant money meant to expand access to abortion services at her Flushing practice. She allegedly used the funds to provide cosmetic procedures in her medical spa.

District Attorney Katz said: “As alleged, this defendant applied for a state grant under the guise of using it for abortion care with promises to extend her hours, purchase new equipment and hire more staff. An investigation revealed that none of that took place, and the money went instead to expand her business by providing cosmetic procedures. We will hold accountable those who seek to steal government money meant to help the public. Thank you to our partners at the New York State Department of Health for their work on this investigation.”

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James V. McDonald said: “New York’s Abortion Access Program fund is designed to support providers who offer abortion care services to ensure these vital health care services remain safe and accessible. Any misuse of these funds is not only illegal, but a disservice to the very New Yorkers providers are committed to caring for. I am grateful for the dedication and collaboration of the Department’s Bureau of Investigations and the Queens County District Attorney for their thorough work in bringing this case to a close while ensuring the full amount of the award is repaid to the Department.”

Li, 54, of East Shore Road in Great Neck, was arraigned today on a criminal complaint charging her with grand larceny in the second degree, criminal possession of stolen property in the second degree and falsifying business records in the first degree.

Queens Criminal Court Judge Glenda Hernandez ordered her to return to court on January 12, 2026. If convicted, she faces up to five to 15 years in prison.

District Attorney Katz said that, according to the charges and investigation, on July 25, 2022, Li filed an application for a state Department of Health grant to ensure abortion access and care.

As part of the application, Li said she intended to offer abortion services free of charge at Flushing OB/GYN — her practice at 136-20 38^th Avenue – and planned to extend her hours from six days a week to seven, buy additional equipment and hire more staff. She attested on the application form that the information was accurate.

Li received approval for $340,000 in grant money from New York state.

In August 2023, Li submitted vouchers for reimbursement to the Department of Health for surgical equipment she allegedly purchased, extra staff hired including registered nurses, and expenditures for additional office space located in a suite next to her original practice.

She received two state payments, made in 2023 and 2024, totaling $287,941.

An analysis of Li’s claimed expenditures found that she did not extend her practice hours, had not purchased the surgical equipment and had not performed any abortions in her 38^th Avenue office.

While Li claimed she had two registered nurses on her payroll neither employee was an RN.

Visits by investigators to the expanded office space revealed that the location was a medical spa where she and her staff conducted cosmetic procedures such as body contouring, skin tightening and facial rejuvenations.

After the investigation began, Li made restitution to the state Department of Health for $287,941.

The investigation was conducted by Investigator Jennifer Person of the New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of Investigations in partnership with Detective Investigator Robert Li and Investigative Accountant Silvana Sutich from the Queens District Attorney’s Office.

Assistant District Attorney Talia S. Vogel, Section Chief of the Crimes Against Revenue Unit in the District Attorney’s Frauds Bureau, is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Hana C. Kim, Acting Bureau Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Gerard A. Brave.