Dr. Mark Chavez pleaded guilty in connection with Matthew Perry’s ketamine overdose death

In a Los Angeles court, Dr. Mark Chavez entered a guilty plea to conspiracy charges pertaining to the drug-related demise of actor Matthew Perry. According to the BBC, the 54-year-old physician modified his appeal to clarify that he did not distribute the surgical anesthetic ketamine.

Chavez ran a ketamine clinic and offered Dr. Salvador Plasencia ketamine lozenges, which Perry—best known for his character Chandler Bing on NBC’s Friends—purchased. In October 2023, Perry was discovered dead in his southern California private jacuzzi. A post-mortem analysis found that he had a high level of ketamine in his system, indicating that the drug’s acute effects were the cause of his death.

As part of his guilty deal, Chavez acknowledged using fake prescriptions to get ketamine from a wholesale distributor as well as from his old clinic. In the weeks before his death, Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s assistant, allegedly worked with the two doctors to give Perry over $50,000 worth of ketamine, according to the prosecution. Text conversations between the doctors disclosed their discussions regarding price; one of the texts called Perry a “moron” and inquired as to how much he would be willing to pay.

By entering a guilty plea, Chavez can accept a reduced charge in return for helping with the current investigation. He might still be sentenced to ten years in jail. “He’s taken ownership of the situation. In court, his lawyer said, “He is cooperating.” Chavez has given up his passport and promised to immediately give up his medical license as part of the plea deal. Until his sentencing, which is set for April 2, 2025, he is free on bond. It is believed that the doctor charged in relation to Matthew Perry’s death will enter a guilty plea. It is believed that the doctor charged in relation to Matthew Perry’s death will enter a guilty plea.

The ‘Friends’ 30th anniversary auction will contain Matthew Perry’s Chandler sweater. The thirty-year anniversary auction of “Friends” will feature Matthew Perry’s Chandler sweater. The course of the Perry death inquiry has revealed a disturbing story concerning the abuse of ketamine, a medication used to treat anxiety and depression. After undergoing ketamine therapy for his addiction, Perry—who had battled the substance for years—became dependent on it and started looking for illegal supplies. The example illustrates how a contentious medical procedure descended into catastrophe.

Chavez admitted his involvement in the risky distribution network that led to Perry’s death in front of U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett. Perry’s vulnerabilities are thought to have been exploited more significantly by Plasencia and Jasveen Sangha, or the “ketamine queen,” as prosecutors continue to build their case against them.

Given Perry’s past history of addiction, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada had previously highlighted the gravity of their actions, giving him dangerously high doses of the drug. Text exchanges between Plasencia and Chavez, which were made public in court documents, provided more insight into their unlawful activities and goals. Matthew Binninger, Chavez’s attorney, emphasized his client’s admission of guilt, saying, “Mark entered his plea of guilty, and that’s now public record.”