Additional Coverage:
- Doctor Charged in Matthew Perry Death ‘Incredibly Remorseful,’ Accepts Plea Deal, Faces 10-Year Sentence (newsbreak.com)
Mark Chavez, one of the individuals charged in connection with the death of “Friends” actor Matthew Perry, has agreed to a plea bargain and faces a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years. On Friday, August 30, Chavez, aged 54, appeared at the Roybal Federal Courthouse in Los Angeles to be arraigned.
During the appearance, it was confirmed that he had arranged a deal to plead guilty and assist the prosecutors, as reported by the Associated Press. Although he consented to plead guilty, Chavez did not formally enter his plea and will do so at a future unspecified date.
Chavez’s attorney, Matthew Binninger, expressed that his client is deeply regretful. He stated that Chavez is relinquishing his medical license as part of his efforts to rectify the situation, although he did not formally accept responsibility during the court session due to procedural reasons.
Matthew Perry passed away at the age of 54 in October 2023 due to “the acute effects of ketamine,” and was discovered in his hot tub at his Los Angeles residence. Along with Chavez, Kenneth Iwamasa, Jasveen Sangha (also known as “the Ketamine Queen”), Salvador Plasencia, and Erik Fleming are all facing federal charges following investigations into Perry’s death.
Earlier disclosed texts between Chavez and Plasencia revealed their alleged involvement in providing Perry with ketamine. Court documents revealed that Chavez had written a fraudulent prescription for ketamine lozenges under a different patient’s name for Plasencia to deliver to Perry in July 2023.
The accusations detail that Chavez continued to supply ketamine illegally to Plasencia who then passed it on to Perry up to around the time of the actor’s demise. In one incident, it is alleged that Chavez sold multiple vials of liquid ketamine and lozenges to Plasencia for $2,000, which Plasencia then administered to Perry.
Text messages between Plasencia and Chavez depict a grim scenario, with one text describing a visit as “like a bad movie.” Another message discussed establishing themselves as Perry’s primary source for ketamine to prevent him from seeking out other suppliers.
Following Perry’s death, Chavez reportedly contacted Plasencia, concerned about the possibility that the ketamine they supplied could have contributed to the actor’s death.
Perry had previously discussed his drug usage publicly, including in his memoir “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” where he described using ketamine to manage pain and depression. He wrote about the highs and challenging come-downs associated with the drug, illustrating its potent effects on his life.