Dr. Mark Chavez, one of two doctors charged in Matthew Perry’s death, pleaded guilty Wednesday in a federal court in Los Angeles to conspiring to distribute the surgical anesthetic ketamine.
After the guilty plea, Chavez, 54, could still face up to 10 years in prison if sentenced.
In August, the San Diego-based doctor signed a plea deal with prosecutors who offered lesser charges to Chavez and two others in exchange for their cooperation in pursuing the main targets of the investigation of the Friends star’s fatal overdose: Dr. Salvador Plasencia and Jasveen Sangha, an alleged drug dealer known as the “ketamine queen” of Los Angeles.
Chavez admitted in the plea deal that he procured ketamine from his former clinic and a wholesale distributor using a fraudulent prescription. If convicted, he could serve up to 10 years in prison.
Dr. Mark Chavez and Matthew Perry
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Chavez is currently free on bond after surrendering his passport and medical license.
In an initial August 30 court appearance, his lawyer, Matthew Binninger, said Chavez is “incredibly remorseful” and is “trying to do everything in his power to right the wrong that happened here.”
Perry was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023. Early news reports said that he appeared to have drowned. In December, it was determined his death was caused by the acute effects of ketamine. No drugs were found at the scene of his death.
‘Ketamine Queen’ Jasveen Sangha
Perry’s live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa and acquaintance Erik Fleming have also cooperated with federal authorities. Iwamasa admitted to helping Perry obtain and inject ketamine, while Fleming admitted to being a middleman. Both are now aiding the prosecution against Plasencia and Sangha.
Sangha is accused of selling Perry the lethal dose of ketamine. Plasencia allegedly sold Perry ketamine just a month before his death and wanted to be the actor’s sole supplier. He, allegedly, is also the person who wrote in a text message, “I wonder how much this moron will pay?”
Both Plasencia and Sangha have pleaded not guilty and await trial. They will be tried together with a pretrial hearing scheduled for February 19, 2025, and trial set to begin March 4, 2025.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia (left) and Dr. Mark Chavez (right)
Last month, high-profile lawyer Mark Geragos told Newsweek that he “takes issue” with his Sangha’s viral nickname, especially because his client never knew Perry.
“Even though I give the US Attorney an A for creativity in nicknaming her in the indictment ‘The Ketamine Queen,’ there’s no basis for that,” Geragos said.
“The coroner’s report does not reflect the homicide. It reflects an accidental death. I think all of these so-called urban legends that somehow my client knew Matthew Perry are demonstrably false,” he added.
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