A doctor charged in relation to the death of Matthew Perry has pleaded guilty to illegally supplying ketamine to the ‘Friends’ actor.
Perry died in his Los Angeles home in October 2023. An autopsy conducted following his death found it was due to a ketamine overdose.
Five people were charged over Perry’s death. Three people have already pleaded guilty to some offences.
Dr Mark Chavez could face up to 10 years imprisonment.
Perry’s death
Matthew Perry died on 28 October after he was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his home. Two months later, medical examiners ruled Perry accidentally died due to “acute effects of ketamine”.
Further, the autopsy found Perry had as much ketamine in his body as an anaesthetist would use to put someone under for surgery.
In his memoir ‘Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing’, Perry spoke openly about his drug addiction, and also detailed his use of medical ketamine to treat depression and anxiety.
People charges
Five people were charged in relation to Perry’s death; two doctors, Perry’s live-in assistant, a friend, and an alleged drug dealer.
U.S. Federal Attorney Martin Estrada alleged the five people plotted to profit off Perry’s substance addictions.
In court documents obtained by U.S. media, prosecutors accuse Perry’s doctor and a drug dealer of planning to provide the actor with ketamine.
In a text exchange, the doctor asks: “I wonder how much this moron will pay” for the drugs.
Ketamine
Ketamine is commonly known as an anaesthetic or an illicit substance. However, it has become prescribed in some states and countries for treatment-resistant depression.
Perry had a legal prescription for ketamine, but it’s been alleged that he sought further doses.
Two months before Perry’s death, he paid around $55,000 in cash for ketamine. His live-in assistant reportedly injected Perry with at least 27 shots of Ketamine in the days before his death.
Guilty plea
This week, Matthew Perry’s doctor pleaded guilty to the illegal distribution of ketamine.
Then, in court, Chavez admitted to using a fake prescription – under a different patient’s name – with the intention of obtaining ketamine for Perry.
Chavez’s guilty plea was part of an agreement that would see lesser charges in exchange for cooperation with the investigation.
The 54-year-old will face sentencing in court in April next year.
Not-guilty pleas
The second doctor, Salvador Plasencia, and the alleged drug dealer, Jasveen Sangha, have both pleaded not guilty.
According to reporting on court documents, Plasencia injected Perry with ketamine and provided vials (containing further doses) to the live-in assistant.
Plasencia’s lawyer argued that the ketamine provided was under a legitimate prescription.
Plasencia and Sangha are expected to face trial in court next year.