Doctor Charged In Connection With Matthew Perry's Death Pleads Guilty

A doctor who was charged in connection with the death of actor Matthew Perry, has pleaded guilty.

Dr Mark Chavez has entered a guilty plea to conspiring to distribute the drug ketamine, having been charged in connection with the death of the Friends star, who died last year aged 54.

Dr Chavez is one of five people charged in connection with Perry's death, with the others including Kenneth Iwamasa, an acquaintance of the actor named Eric Fleming, another doctor named Salvador Plasencia, known as "Dr P", and Jasveen Sangha, who was referred to in documents as the 'Ketamine Queen'. 

Chavez is to be sentenced on April 2. He faces up to 10 years in prison, which is likely to be less than his co-conspirators due to his guilty plea and cooperation with the authorities. 

Following his court appearance, Chavez's lawyer Matthew Binninger said that his client is "incredibly remorseful", and is "trying to do everything in his power to right the wrong that happened here".

Alongside Chavez, Kenneth Iwamasa and Fleming have also pleaded guilty in the case, with Iwamasa pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, causing death. Iwamasa who found Perry's dead body at his LA home last year, has also admitted repeatedly injecting ketamine into Perry without medical training, including on the day the actor died.

Elsewhere, Fleming has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, as well as one count of distributing ketamine, causing death. He is to be sentenced on October 30. 

Initial court reports had stated that Chavez had conspired with another doctor Plasencia, to supply Matthew Perry with large quantities of ketamine. It was even alleged that Plascencia had written the message: "I wonder how much this moron will pay" and "let's find out". 

Chavez admitted selling the drug to Plascencia in Santa Monica, having taken it from his former ketamine clinic. 

Plascencia is to face trial on 4 March 2025, after being accused of using Kenneth Iwamasa to distribute ketamine for Matthew Perry between September and October last year for $55,000. 

Plascencia and Jasveen Sangha are to face trial for selling the drug to Perry for $11,00 in cash. He is to face a maximum sentence of 120 years, with Sangha facing life imprisonment. 

Matthew Perry had been receiving treatment for anxiety and depression, before becoming addicted to ketamine last year.