A San Diego doctor has become the third medical professional to plead guilty in the case involving Matthew Perry’s fatal drug overdose. Prosecutors are gathering cooperators in an effort to convict two key figures they believe are responsible for the death of the Friends star. Dr. Mark Chavez, 54, entered a guilty plea yesterday to a felony count of conspiring to distribute the surgical anesthetic ketamine in federal court in Los Angeles. This plea came after he reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in July.
Chavez has agreed to cooperate with the US Attorneys Office as they pursue more serious charges against Dr. Salvador Plasencia, whom prosecutors claim directly provided ketamine to Perry. The other major target in the investigation is Jasmine Sangha, an alleged dealer known as the ‘ketamine queen’ of Los Angeles, who is believed to have supplied the doses that led to Perry’s death last year.
In court, Chavez stood with his lawyer and answered numerous questions from Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett. He agreed to waive his right to a trial and other legal rights. Prosecutors detailed each instance of Chavez meeting with Plasencia between San Diego and Los Angeles to exchange ketamine obtained through fraudulent prescriptions. Chavez admitted to supplying 22 5-milliliter vials of ketamine and nine ketamine lozenges.
When a prosecutor described Perry’s death, Chavez cleared his throat. Judge Garnett asked, “Are you pleading guilty because you did the things the prosecutors described?” to which Chavez replied, “Yes, your honour.” Chavez remains free on bond until his sentencing on 2 April. He has surrendered his passport and agreed to relinquish his medical license, among other conditions.
Chavez’s lawyer, Matthew Binninger, spoke briefly to reporters outside the courthouse, stating, “Mark entered his plea of guilty, and that’s now public record. You accept responsibility and then you set sentencing.” Federal prosecutors are also working with Perry’s assistant, who admitted to helping him obtain and inject ketamine, and a Perry acquaintance who acted as a drug messenger and middleman.
Perry was found dead by his assistant on 28 October 2023. The medical examiner ruled that ketamine was the primary cause of death. The actor had been using the drug through his regular doctor for off-label treatment of depression, a practice that has become increasingly common. About a month before his death, Perry sought out Plasencia, who allegedly asked Chavez to obtain the drug for him.
According to court filings, Plasencia texted Chavez, “I wonder how much this moron will pay.” The two met in Costa Mesa, halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, and exchanged at least four vials of ketamine. Perry had struggled with addiction for years, a struggle that began during his time on Friends, where he became one of the biggest stars of his generation as Chandler Bing.
