Doctor in Matthew Perry's death pleads guilty to ketamine distribution, faces up to 10 years in prison

A San Diego doctor has become the third individual to plead guilty in connection with Matthew Perry's fatal overdose, as prosecutors work to build a case against two key suspects they believe are responsible for the ‘Friends’ star's death.

Dr. Mark Chavez, 54, entered his plea on October 2 in a Los Angeles federal court, admitting to a felony charge of conspiring to distribute the anesthetic ketamine. This followed a plea agreement reached with prosecutors in July. Chavez has agreed to cooperate with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which is now pursuing more serious charges against Dr. Salvador Plasencia, accused of directly supplying ketamine to Perry.

The other main target of the investigation is Jasmine Sangha, an alleged drug dealer known as the ‘ketamine queen’ of Los Angeles. Prosecutors claim she provided the lethal doses that led to Perry’s death in October 2023.

During his court appearance, Chavez answered questions from Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, waived his right to a trial, and admitted to distributing 22 vials of ketamine and nine lozenges. He is currently free on bond until his sentencing on April 2, where he could face up to 10 years in prison, though his cooperation may lead to a reduced sentence. Chavez has also agreed to surrender his medical license and passport.

Prosecutors revealed text messages between Chavez and Plasencia discussing their ketamine distribution. In one exchange, Plasencia asked Chavez if he approved of their actions, to which Chavez responded, "Depends on your tolerance for risk." Plasencia also suggested they become Perry’s ‘go-to’ suppliers for the drug, which they sold to the actor for $4,500.

U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada condemned the doctors' actions, saying they exploited Perry’s history of addiction during the final months of his life. Perry, who struggled with addiction for years, was found dead on October 28, 2023. Ketamine, used for off-label depression treatment, was ruled as the primary cause of death.

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