One of the doctors implicated in the investigation surrounding the tragic death of actor Matthew Perry has pled guilty in a Los Angeles federal court.
Third Person to pPlead Guilty
Dr. Mark Chavez, 54, from San Diego, admitted to conspiring to distribute the surgical anesthetic ketamine, which played a key role in Perry’s fatal overdose in October 2023.
Chavez signed a plea agreement in August, becoming the third person to plead guilty in connection with Perry’s death. He could face up to 10 years in prison when sentenced, according to Digi24.
Authorities are also targeting two other figures they consider more directly responsible for the overdose: another doctor, Salvador Plasencia, and a suspected drug trafficker, Jasveen Sangha, both of whom have pled not guilty.
Obtained Ketamine From Former Clinic
Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit NBC sitcom Friends, had long struggled with addiction. He was reportedly using ketamine, initially prescribed for a legal but off-label treatment of depression. However, Perry began seeking additional supplies beyond what his doctor was providing, leading to his deadly encounter with a black-market drug operation.
Chavez admitted to obtaining ketamine from his former clinic and using a falsified prescription to secure the drugs. The drug exchange between Chavez and Plasencia took place about a month before Perry’s death, with Plasencia charging $4,500 for the drugs.
Chavez, who has expressed remorse, has agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors. He has surrendered his medical license and passport as part of the ongoing investigation. The trial of Plasencia and Sangha is still pending.
Matthew Perry was found dead in his home on October 28, 2023. His passing marked the tragic culmination of years of battling substance abuse, a struggle that began during his peak fame on Friends.
