Doctor pleads guilty in drug overdose death of 'Friends' star Matthew Perry

San Diego doctor Mark Chavez was the third person to plead guilty in the investigation into the tragic death of Matthew Perry. Dr. Chavez, 54, took the first step in collaboration with on Wednesday Federal prosecutorsagreed to a plea deal that could prove crucial in targeting major figures believed to be responsible for Perry's death.
The “Friends” star, who played Chandler Bing, was found dead in October 2023 Drug overdose This has now triggered a wide-ranging investigation into the illegal distribution of Ketamine.
The case exposed the frightening reality of how an off-label treatment for depression became a deadly cocktail. Perry, who had battled addiction for years, sought refuge in ketamine therapy – a controversial but increasingly common treatment for depression. However, as his dependency increased, so did his desperation. When his legal sources dried up, Perry turned to the dark underbelly of the medical world, allegedly aided by Dr. Salvador Plasencia and notorious Los Angeles dealer Jasmine Sangha, known as the “Ketamine Queen.”
Dr. Chavez, standing before U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, admitted his role in this dangerous network. His confession came as prosecutors recounted how he conspired with Plasencia to distribute ketamine to Perry through fraudulent prescriptions.
Chavez, who had once vowed to do no harm, provided over 22 bottles and nine lozenges of the powerful anesthetic. It was this very drug that Perry's assistant would find next to the actor's lifeless body on that fateful October day.
“Are you pleading guilty because you did the things that prosecutors described?” Judge Garnett asked Chavez.
“Yes, your honor,” he replied.
Chavez's plea agreement, signed in July, requires him to cooperate fully as federal prosecutors continue their case against Plasencia, the doctor who allegedly administered the fatal doses, and Sangha, the woman whose reputation as a drug supplier looms large in Los Angeles. expand further. Their role, prosecutors argue, was far more sinister, exploiting Perry's vulnerability in his final months. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada suggested during a news conference in August that they exploited Perry's history of addiction and provided him with “amounts that they knew were dangerous.”
Plasencia and Sangha are the ultimate goals. Text messages between Plasencia and Chavez revealed in court documents shed light on the extent of their illegal operations. In one conversation, Plasencia reflected on how much Perry would pay for the drugs, called the actor an “idiot” and suggested they make themselves his preferred suppliers. Although Chavez was hesitant at first, he seemed fine with it – as long as they stayed away from “shady things.”
Chavez remains free on bail until his April 2 sentencing after surrendering his passport and medical license as part of the agreement.
Outside the courtroom, Chávez's lawyer, Matthew Binninger, spoke briefly, signaling that his client had come to terms with his role in the tragic chain of events. “Mark has made his admission of guilt and that is now public knowledge,” Binninger said. “You take responsibility and then determine the sentence,” he said.