Dr. Mark Chavez has pleaded guilty in a Los Angeles court regarding his involvement in the drug-related death of actor Matthew Perry, best known for his role on the NBC sitcom “Friends.” The 54-year-old physician admitted to conspiring to distribute the surgical anesthetic ketamine.
Chavez, who operated a ketamine clinic, sold ketamine lozenges to Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who subsequently supplied them to Perry. The actor was found dead in his backyard jacuzzi in Southern California in October 2023.
A post-mortem examination revealed a high concentration of ketamine in Perry’s blood and indicated that the “acute effects” of the drug were the cause of death. Ketamine is commonly used for treating depression, anxiety, and pain.
In his plea agreement, Chavez acknowledged that he obtained ketamine from both his former clinic and a wholesale distributor through a fraudulent prescription. Prosecutors disclosed that Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, collaborated with the two doctors to provide the actor with over $50,000 (£38,000) worth of ketamine in the weeks leading up to his death.
The indictment revealed that the two doctors exchanged messages discussing pricing for the drug, with one message stating, “I wonder how much this moron will pay.”
Chavez’s plea agreement allows him to plead guilty to a lesser charge in exchange for his cooperation in the ongoing investigation, although he faces a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison. “He has accepted responsibility. He is co-operating,” his attorney stated in court.
As part of the conditions of his plea, Chavez has surrendered his passport and agreed to immediately relinquish his medical license. He is currently out on bail and is scheduled for sentencing on April 2, 2025.
