Dr. Mark Chavez has pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute ketamine after being charged in connection with Matthew Perry ’s fatal overdose. Chavez, 54, who entered the plea to the felony on Wednesday, October 2, faces up to 10 years in prison and will be sentenced in April 2025.
He is one of five individuals to be charged in the aftermath of Perry’s October 2023 death and the third to admit guilt. Last month, Perry’s assistant Kenneth Iwamasa pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death, and Perry’s acquaintance Erik Fleming pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Dr.
Salvador Plasencia and the so-called “Ketamine Queen” Jasveen Sangha , meanwhile, pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine. Chavez, Iwamasa and Fleming have agreed to cooperate with the investigation in exchange for lesser charges as federal prosecutors go after Plasencia and Sangha, whom they deem to be primarily responsible for Perry’s death. Chavez’s lawyer Matthew Binninger said during an August court appearance that Chavez, who has agreed to surrender his medical license, is “incredibly remorseful” and “trying to do everything in his power to right the wrong that happened here.
” According to court documents obtained by Us Weekly in August, Plasencia allegedly contacted Chavez about buying ketamine in September 2023 after learning that Per.