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Second Doctor Implicated in Matthew Perry’s Death to Be Sentenced
Los Angeles, CA – The legal proceedings following the tragic death of actor Matthew Perry continue, as Dr. Mark Chavez is set to be sentenced on Tuesday. Chavez is one of five individuals convicted in connection with the “Friends” star’s 2023 ketamine overdose.
Chavez previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. He admitted to fraudulently obtaining ketamine and then selling it to another doctor, Salvador Plasencia, who subsequently provided the drug to Perry in the weeks leading up to his death.
While federal prosecutors acknowledge that neither Chavez nor Plasencia supplied the ketamine that ultimately caused Perry’s overdose, they assert that both doctors were aware of the actor’s history of substance abuse and that the drug would be administered without proper medical supervision. Perry, 54, was found unresponsive in his Los Angeles home’s jacuzzi in October 2023.
Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of six months of home confinement for Chavez, alongside a two-year term of supervised release and a minimum of 300 hours of community service. They stated that Chavez, a former operator of a ketamine clinic, provided Plasencia with vials of liquid ketamine and ketamine lozenges acquired through a fraudulent prescription made in a patient’s name without their knowledge or consent.
Government filings ahead of sentencing noted that Chavez initially attempted to evade responsibility when confronted by Drug Enforcement Administration and Medical Board investigators regarding his illegal ketamine sales. However, they credit him with eventually accepting responsibility and cooperating with the government’s investigation.
Chavez’s defense attorneys are advocating for three years of supervised release, arguing that his involvement was “limited and peripheral” and “far removed from the tragic events of October 28, 2023.” They highlighted that Chavez never met Perry, entered his home, or administered medication directly to him, nor did he supply the ketamine that led to the actor’s death. His attorneys also emphasized his early acceptance of responsibility, plea agreement prior to indictment, cooperation with authorities, and voluntary surrender of his medical license.
“The consequences Mr. Chavez has already faced are significant,” stated his attorneys, Matthew Binninger and Zach Brooks.
“Once a practicing emergency room physician, he lost his profession, suffered public disgrace, and now earns a living as an Uber driver. He has remained compliant with all terms of pretrial supervision and continues to demonstrate sincere regret for his actions.”
Both Chavez and Plasencia relinquished their medical licenses after entering their guilty pleas.
Court documents from Plasencia’s plea agreement reveal that he was introduced to Perry on September 30, 2023, by a patient who described Perry as a “high profile person” seeking ketamine and willing to pay “cash and lots of thousands.” Plasencia then contacted his mentor, Chavez, to discuss Perry’s request and purchased ketamine from him. Text messages between the two doctors included Plasencia questioning, “I wonder how much this moron will pay” and “Lets [sic] find out” when discussing pricing for Perry.
Plasencia admitted to distributing 20 vials of ketamine, ketamine lozenges, and syringes to Perry and his live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, between September 30 and October 12, 2023. He also administered ketamine to Perry at the actor’s home on multiple occasions and left additional doses with Iwamasa for administration. Plasencia received a 30-month prison sentence earlier this month.
Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s assistant, admitted in court to administering ketamine on the day of Perry’s death. He pleaded guilty in August 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death and is slated for sentencing on January 14, 2026, facing up to 15 years in prison.
Two other defendants, Erik Fleming and Jasveen Sangha, also admitted to distributing the ketamine that led to Perry’s death. Prosecutors contend that Sangha collaborated with Fleming to provide Perry with 51 vials of ketamine in October 2023, which were given to Iwamasa.
Fleming pleaded guilty in August 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. He is scheduled for sentencing on January 7, 2026, and faces a potential sentence of up to 25 years in prison.
Sangha, reportedly known as “The Ketamine Queen,” pleaded guilty in September to charges including maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of ketamine distribution, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury. Her sentencing is set for February 25, 2026, where she faces a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.