Cornell Gang Rape Lawsuit: Korean Student Winston Lee Among 7 Named as Defendants
A former Cornell University student, identified in court papers as Jane Doe, has filed a civil lawsuit in New York alleging that she was drugged and gang raped by multiple members of the Chi Phi fraternity at the fraternity house in October 2024. Among the seven current and former students named as defendants is Winston Lee, a student identified in Korean-language reporting as Korean.
The lawsuit was filed on September 14, 2026, according to The Cornell Daily Sun, the university’s independent student newspaper. The complaint names seven individuals – Matthew Ingalls, Johnathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris, and Scott Kretzschmar – alongside Cornell University, several Chi Phi fraternity organizations, and other parties.
The allegations have not been proven in court. No criminal charges have been filed in connection with the case.
Key Details
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Incident Date | October 19, 2024 |
| Location | Chi Phi fraternity house, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York |
| Lawsuit Filing Date | September 14, 2026 |
| Plaintiff | Former Cornell student (Jane Doe) |
| Defendants Named | Matthew Ingalls, Johnathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris, Scott Kretzschmar |
| Korean Defendant | Winston Lee (identified as Korean in Korean-language reports) |
| Criminal Charges | None filed |
| University Action | Internal investigation conducted; Chi Phi chapter barred from campus |
Official Statement
Cornell University told The Cornell Daily Sun and other outlets that its Office of Civil Rights and Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards investigated and adjudicated the allegations under university policies. The university declined to disclose specific disciplinary actions involving individual students, citing federal privacy law. Cornell stated the Chi Phi chapter remains barred from campus and that it launched a task force on sexual assault following the incident.
The Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office told CBS New York that after reviewing the police investigation, it found insufficient evidence to support criminal charges.
Chi Phi’s national headquarters told CBS News that the allegations were “deeply concerning” and that the fraternity “unequivocally condemns sexual violence.” The organization declined to discuss specific allegations because litigation is pending.
The plaintiff told The Cornell Daily Sun: “What happened to me was horrific and deeply disturbing. Almost two years later, I still carry the weight of its impact every day and night.”
What We Know So Far
According to the lawsuit, as reported by The Cornell Daily Sun, the plaintiff’s evening on October 19, 2024, began at Cornell’s Tri-Delta house, where she consumed alcohol before attending an event at Moonies Bar & Nightclub. She then went alone to the Chi Phi fraternity house to meet defendant Matthew Ingalls.
The complaint alleges that at the fraternity house, Ingalls proposed a threesome with him and another fraternity brother, Johnathan Newell. The plaintiff claims she was “incapable of consenting.” She alleges she was pressured into consuming ketamine, marijuana, and high-proof liquor. According to the lawsuit, sexual assault began and continued, with additional fraternity members joining after Newell allegedly sent a message to a Snapchat group called “Chi Phi Actives” saying there was “free p***y” upstairs.
The assault allegedly did not end until approximately 5:45 a.m., several hours after it began.
The plaintiff reported the incident to Cornell University Police about three weeks later, on November 8, 2024, according to reporting from The Cornell Daily Sun and India Today.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Oct. 19, 2024 | Alleged drugging and gang rape at Chi Phi fraternity house |
| Nov. 8, 2024 | Plaintiff reports incident to Cornell University Police |
| 2024–2025 | Cornell conducts internal investigation; Chi Phi chapter barred from campus |
| Sept. 14, 2026 | Civil lawsuit filed in New York |
| Sept. 2026 | Lawsuit publicly reported; case draws international attention |
Why This Matters
This case raises several important distinctions that readers should understand:
Civil vs. criminal proceedings. The lawsuit is a civil action seeking monetary damages. It is not a criminal prosecution. The absence of criminal charges does not mean the allegations are untrue; it means the district attorney determined the available evidence did not meet the threshold for criminal prosecution. In civil cases, the burden of proof is lower (preponderance of the evidence) than in criminal cases (beyond a reasonable doubt).
University disciplinary process. Cornell’s internal investigation resulted in disciplinary outcomes that have not been fully disclosed due to federal privacy law. The plaintiff’s attorney, Thomas Giuffra, told CBS News that only two of the seven accused were expelled, while others received suspensions, workshops, or were required to write essays.
Cross-cultural attention. The case has drawn significant attention in Korean American and Korean online communities because one of the defendants is identified as Korean. The Korea Times reported that the case “has surfaced on Korean American online forums, where users have been seeking additional information about Lee and the allegations.”
Previous Context
This is not the first high-profile sexual assault case involving a university fraternity to draw international attention. However, the specific involvement of a Korean-identified defendant has made this case particularly resonant within Korean and Korean American communities, where issues of sexual violence, accountability, and the protection of victims remain subjects of active social discussion.
The case also follows a broader pattern of increased scrutiny on university fraternity culture and sexual assault adjudication processes in the United States, where critics argue that internal disciplinary systems often fail to deliver proportionate consequences.
What Is Confirmed vs. Unconfirmed
Confirmed
- A civil lawsuit was filed on September 14, 2026, in New York by a former Cornell student.
- Seven individuals are named as defendants, including Winston Lee.
- The alleged incident occurred on October 19, 2024, at the Chi Phi fraternity house.
- The plaintiff reported the incident to Cornell University Police on November 8, 2024.
- Cornell conducted an internal investigation; the Chi Phi chapter remains barred from campus.
- No criminal charges have been filed.
- The Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office found insufficient evidence for criminal prosecution.
Reported
- The plaintiff’s attorney stated that two of the seven accused were expelled, while others received lesser punishments.
- Winston Lee is identified as Korean and is expected to graduate from Cornell in 2027.
- The alleged assault continued until approximately 5:45 a.m.
Not Confirmed
- The specific disciplinary outcomes for each individual defendant.
- Whether Winston Lee or any other defendant has issued a public statement through legal counsel.
- The current enrollment status of any defendant.
- Whether settlement discussions are underway.
- The full contents of the civil complaint beyond what has been reported by reputable media.
Latest Update
As of the time of publication, the lawsuit is pending in New York. No criminal charges have been filed. Cornell University has stated it will respond through the legal process. The Chi Phi fraternity’s national headquarters has said it will respect a fair legal process while declining to discuss specifics due to pending litigation.
What Happens Next
The civil lawsuit will proceed through the New York court system. No trial date has been announced. The case may involve discovery, potential motions, and possibly settlement discussions, though none of these steps have been confirmed as occurring.
At the time of publication, no further official statements from the defendants, Cornell University, or the plaintiff’s legal team have been made public beyond what is summarized above.
More Info About Kpopbio
