Dr. Mark Chavez, one of the doctors charged in connection with the tragic death of actor Matthew Perry, is expected to plead guilty to conspiring to distribute the surgical anesthetic ketamine. The plea agreement was reached with prosecutors, making him the third person to plead guilty in relation to Perry's fatal overdose last year.
Chavez, aged 54 and hailing from San Diego, has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in their pursuit of others involved in the case. This includes the doctor who worked alongside Chavez to sell ketamine to Perry, as well as Perry's assistant and an acquaintance who have also admitted to their roles in the incident.
The main targets of the prosecution are Dr. Salvador Plasencia, accused of illegally selling ketamine to Perry before his death, and Jasveen Sangha, identified as the dealer who provided the lethal dose of ketamine to the actor. Both Plasencia and Sangha have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.
In his plea agreement, Chavez confessed to obtaining ketamine from his former clinic and a wholesale distributor through a fraudulent prescription. If found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in prison.
Perry, known for his role as Chandler Bing on the popular TV show 'Friends,' was discovered deceased by his assistant on October 28. The medical examiner determined that ketamine was the primary cause of his death, as the actor had been using the drug as an off-label treatment for depression.
Perry sought additional ketamine beyond what his regular doctor prescribed, leading him to Plasencia, who then enlisted Chavez to procure the drug. The exchange took place in Costa Mesa, where ketamine vials were sold to Perry for $4,500. Plasencia expressed interest in becoming Perry's regular supplier of the drug.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada highlighted that the doctors took advantage of Perry's addiction history in his final months, providing him with dangerous amounts of ketamine. Plasencia faces multiple charges related to ketamine distribution and falsifying records post-Perry's demise.
Plasencia and Sangha are set to appear in court next week, with separate trial dates scheduled for October. Prosecutors are seeking a joint trial, likely to be postponed to the following year.
Perry's battle with addiction dates back to his time on 'Friends,' where he rose to fame as Chandler Bing. The show, which aired from 1994 to 2004, featured Perry alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer.
