A San Diego doctor plead guilty yesterday to conspiracy to distribute ketamine in the death of actor Matthew Perry.
Dr. Mark Chavez, 54, is one of five individuals who were charged August 15, 2024, for the death of “Friends” actor Matthew Perry, who was found October 28, 2023, by his assistant in the hot tub at Perry’s Pacific Palisades home.
The Associated Press reports that Chavez entered the plea to the felony in federal court in Los Angeles and is the third individuals to admit guilt in the drug overdose death of Perry.
Chavez and two other individuals were offered lesser charges by prosecutors in exchange for cooperation in going after the two individuals considered responsible for Perry’s overdose death: a second doctor and an alleged Los Angeles dealer known as “ketamine queen.” Ketamine, typically used as a surgical anesthetic, can be snorted or injected to experience a sense of euphoria or “dissociative” effects. High doses can make some individuals feel immobilized or create hallucinations. Ketamine can increase demands on the heart and complicate breathing.
While free on bond until sentencing on April 2, 2025, Chavez has surrendered his passport and will surrender his medical license. Chavez’s lawyer, Matthew Binninger, said on August 30 that the doctor is “incredibly remorseful” and is “trying to do everything in his power to right the wrong that happened here.”
Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, is also working with federal prosecutors in the case. Iwamasa admitted to obtaining and injecting ketamine for Perry. Chavez, Iwamasa and an acquaintance of Perry’s are assisting prosecutors in getting the main targets: Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who is charged with illegally selling ketamine to Perry in the month before his death, and Jasveen Sangha, an alleged drug dealer who sold Perry the lethal dose. Both have pleaded not guilty and await trial.
In his plea agreement, Chavez admitted that he obtained ketamine from his former clinic and from a wholesale distributor. He submitted a fraudulent prescription to the distributor. He faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced, but his cooperation will likely reduce his sentence.
Before his death, Perry, who was also seen in films such as “Fools Rush In” with Salma Hayek and “The Ron Clark Story,” began finding ways to get more ketamine than his doctor would prescribe. He guest starred on several TV shows, including “Who’s the Boss,” “Beverly Hills 90210” and “The Good Wife.”
After a 1997 jet ski accident, Perry became addicted to pain medication.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said when he announced charges on August 15 that “the doctors preyed on Perry’s history of addiction in the final months of his life last year to provide him with ketamine in amounts they knew were dangerous.”
Perry published a memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing” a year before his death.
Related stories:
Five charged in ketamine death of ‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry’ (augustafreepress.com)
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Rebecca Barnabi
