Doctor pleads guilty in overdose death of Friends star Matthew Perry | Drug News

Mark Chavez admits obtaining ketamine with a fraudulent prescription for Perry, who died in October 2023 at age 54.

One of two California doctors who were among five people charged in the overdose death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry has pleaded guilty to illegally distributing the drug ketamine.

Mark Chavez, of San Diego, entered the plea during an appearance in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Wednesday. When he is announced, which was scheduled for April, he faces up to ten years in prison.

Another doctor charged in the case, Salvador Plasencia, has pleaded not guilty, as has co-defendant Jasveen Sangha, who authorities said was an illegal supplier of the drug and known as the “ketamine queen.” The couple's trial is scheduled for March.

Perry's personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who admitted injecting Perry with the drug, and the alleged middleman who said he received ketamine from Sangha, have already pleaded guilty to the charges against them.

Authorities said Plasencia purchased ketamine from Chavez, and in text messages to Chavez discussing the amount Perry should be charged for the drug, he wrote: “I wonder how much this idiot is going to pay.” “

On Wednesday, Chavez, 54, stood at a podium in court and answered a series of questions with “Yes, Your Honor.”

The defendant admitted that he obtained ketamine with a fraudulent prescription written for another patient and that he knew the drug was intended for Perry.

He also admitted that he had provided Plasencia with ketamine, a short-acting anesthetic, and that he was aware that this should only be administered under medical supervision and in the presence of appropriate safety equipment.

According to court documents, Plasencia administered ketamine to Perry at the actor's home and provided vials that the assistant injected him with. Plasencia's attorney said his client properly prescribed and administered ketamine to Perry.

According to a December 2023 autopsy report, Perry died at age 54 in October 2023 from the “acute effects” of ketamine and other factors that caused him to lose consciousness and drown in his hot tub.

The actor had publicly admitted to decades of drug abuse, including during his role as Chandler Bing on the hit television sitcom “Friends.”

From 1994 to 2004, he starred for ten seasons alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer.

The actor had taken ketamine through his family doctor in a legal but unlicensed treatment for depression, which is becoming increasingly common.

Perry began taking more ketamine than his doctor wanted to give him. About a month before the actor's death, he met Plasencia, who in turn allegedly asked Chavez to get the drug for him.

Chávez pleaded guilty as part of a deal with prosecutors, who offered him lesser charges in exchange for his assistance in their case against Plasencia and Sangha.

“He took responsibility. He's cooperating,” Matt Binninger, Chavez's lawyer, said in court.

Chavez has given up his medical license and remains free on bail pending his sentencing.