One of two doctors charged in the investigation into Friends star Matthew Perry’s death has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply the surgical anesthetic ketamine.
Dr. Mark Chavez, 54, accepted a plea agreement with prosecutors in August, becoming the third individual to plead guilty in the wake of the Canadian actor’s tragic overdose last year.
Chavez of San Diego pleaded guilty on Wednesday in a federal court in Los Angeles.
Prosecutors offered Chavez and two others reduced charges in exchange for their cooperation as they pursue two individuals they believe are more culpable for the overdose death: another doctor and an alleged dealer dubbed the “ketamine queen” of Los Angeles.
Chavez surrendered his passport and medical license, among other conditions, to secure his release on bond.
Perry died at the age of 54 in October of last year from a deadly overdose of the medication, which can be used to treat depression. His death sent shockwaves through the industry, prompting a seven-month inquiry by LA authorities.
The inquiry led to the detention of Chavez, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, and Jasveen Sangha, a Hollywood drug dealer known as “the ketamine queen.”
Plasencia is accused of unlawfully distributing ketamine to Perry in the month before his death, while authorities believe Sangha sold the actor the lethal dose of ketamine. Both have previously pleaded not guilty and await trial.
Perry’s assistant, who admitted to helping him obtain and inject ketamine, and a Perry acquaintance, who admitted to serving as a drug courier and intermediary, are also cooperating with federal authorities.
Chavez previously stated in his plea bargain that he received ketamine from his old clinic and a wholesale distributor after submitting a bogus prescription. His lawyer, Matthew Binninger, stated in August that he is “incredibly remorseful” and “trying to do everything in his power to right the wrong that happened here.”
Chavez faces a sentence of up to ten years in jail following his guilty plea.
On October 28, 2023, his assistant discovered Perry dead, and the medical examiner later determined that ketamine was the primary cause of death. The actor had been taking the medicine as prescribed by his regular doctor, which is a legitimate but off-label treatment for depression that is becoming more widespread.
Perry started requesting more ketamine than his doctor would give him. About a month before his death, the actor saw Plasencia, who then begged Chavez to procure the medication for him.
“I wonder how much this moron will pay,” Plasencia texted Chavez. They met on the same day in Costa Mesa, midway between Los Angeles and San Diego, and swapped at least four ketamine vials.
After selling the pills to Perry for $4,500, Plasencia asked Chavez if he could continue to supply them so they could become Perry’s “go-to.”
Perry suffered with addiction for many years, beginning with his time on Friends, when he rose to prominence as Chandler Bing.
From 1994 until 2004, he costarred with Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer in NBC’s megahit sitcom.
