Dr. Mark Chavez, one of the physicians charged in connection with the death of actor Matthew Perry, appeared in a Los Angeles court on Friday as part of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. He was freed on a $50,000 bond and plans to enter a plea of guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute ketamine to Perry, who tragically passed away in October 2023 at the age of 54.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office autopsy report revealed that Perry died due to the acute effects of the surgical anesthetic ketamine and subsequent drowning. His body was discovered floating face down in a hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home.
During the hearing, Chavez acknowledged the charges and waived his right to a grand jury indictment. He is expected to return to court in late October to formalize the agreement with his attorney.
Chavez is one of five individuals charged in connection with Perry's death. Three of the accused are cooperating with prosecutors, focusing on defendants Dr. Salvador Plasencia and Jasveen Sangha, who allegedly operated a drug selling emporium in Sangha's home.
Chavez provided Plasencia with ketamine through a fraudulent prescription, as outlined in the allegations against him. He has surrendered his medical license in accordance with the plea agreement.
Before Perry's passing, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Medical Board of California had initiated an investigation into Chavez for falsely claiming to have transferred or disposed of the ketamine.
The plea agreement states that Chavez, who received his medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, was affiliated with Dreamscape Ketamine until a dispute with his business partner led him to take all prescription drugs, including ketamine.
The maximum recommended sentence outlined in the plea documentation is 10 years in prison. Despite Perry's celebrity status, the federal government conducted a thorough investigation, emphasizing the seriousness of the case.
