Dr. Mark Chavez has pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiring to distribute ketamine in connection with the death of Friends star Matthew Perry. Chavez appeared in a Los Angeles court and entered his plea, acknowledging his involvement in supplying the drug that ultimately led to Perry’s death.
The 54-year-old doctor faces a possible prison sentence of up to 10 years. Perry, also 54, was found dead at his Los Angeles home on October 28 last year, with a medical examiner ruling that ketamine was the primary cause of death. Court documents revealed that Perry had been using the drug six to eight times a day before his passing.
Chavez’s lawyer, Matthew Binninger, expressed that his client is deeply remorseful and is attempting to take responsibility for his actions.
Chavez is one of five individuals charged in connection with Perry’s death. Others facing charges include Perry’s live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, an acquaintance named Eric Fleming, another doctor identified as Salvador Plasencia, and a woman named Jasveen Sangha, who is referred to in court documents as the “Ketamine Queen.”
Chavez is the third person to plead guilty in the case. Iwamasa, Perry’s assistant, admitted to conspiring to distribute ketamine, including injecting Perry with the drug multiple times despite having no medical training.
Iwamasa confessed to administering ketamine on the day Perry died. Additionally, Eric Fleming, 54, has also pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Fleming is scheduled for sentencing on October 30.
Although Chavez faces up to a decade in prison, it is expected that he may receive a lighter sentence due to his cooperation with prosecutors and his plea agreement. His sentencing is set for April 2 of next year.
Perry had been seeking treatment for depression and anxiety prior to his death, and his addiction to intravenous ketamine began the previous autumn, leading to his frequent use of the drug.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia, another doctor involved in the case, is accused of conspiring with Chavez to supply Perry with large amounts of ketamine. According to the indictment, Plasencia and Chavez communicated about profiting from the actor’s addiction.
Chavez admitted to diverting ketamine from his former clinic and selling it to Plasencia. Plasencia is accused of using Iwamasa to distribute the drug to Perry in exchange for $55,000.
Plasencia is scheduled to stand trial on March 4 of next year. He faces charges of conspiracy and distributing ketamine, and if convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 120 years in federal prison.
Jasveen Sangha, who allegedly sold Perry ketamine for $11,000 in cash, will also face trial alongside Plasencia. Sangha is facing life imprisonment if found guilty.
The case has drawn significant attention due to Perry’s fame and the shocking nature of his death. The involvement of multiple individuals, including medical professionals, in distributing the dangerous drug highlights the severity of the case.
