A San Diego medical professional, Mark Chavez, has formally confessed to his involvement in conspiracy to distribute ketamine, a surgical anaesthetic. This corroborated admission was made amid the investigation into the death of actor Matthew Perry, perhaps most famous for his role in the sitcom Friends. Other charges have also been taken on by two other individuals.
The 54-year-old doctor’s plea change hearing took place on Wednesday in a Los Angeles federal court, and sentencing has been arranged for April 2nd, 2025. Leaving the courtroom with his lawyer, Chavez, presently not under custody and out on a $50,000 bond, had just agreed to a deal with the prosecution.
Chavez admitted within this agreement, that he had transferred ketamine to Salvador Plasencia, another doctor based in Santa Monica, from a prior ketamine establishment. It was during the September – October period in the previous year that Plasencia is alleged to have utilised Perry’s live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, to supply Perry with ketamine against a payment of $55,000.
Perry, 54, succumbed to the acute effects of this anaesthetic on October 28th while seeking treatment for depression and anxiety, having developed a dependency on ketamine infusions. In the initial indictment, Plasencia was apparently in a conspiracy with Chavez to provide large quantities of ketamine to Perry.
Sharing the defendant’s bench with Plasencia during the March 4 trial will be Jasveen Sangha, accused of providing Perry with ketamine for $11,000. Labelled as “the ketamine queen” by authorities, it is claimed by a Drug Enforcement Administrator that Sangha distributed the ultimately fatal dose.
120 years is the maximum sentence looming over Plasencia, whereas Sangha could face a life sentence. Multiple charges have been refuted by Plasencia previously, including the ketamine distribution scheme, seven individual counts of ketamine supply, and an added two charges related to false document allegations arising from the investigation into Perry’s passing.
Sangha entered a plea of not guilty to a number of accusations including the scheme to circulate ketamine, operating a drug-related property, and intent to distribute both methamphetamine and ketamine, in addition to five charges of ketamine distribution.
The death of Perry, well-known for his role as Chandler Bing in the popular US comedy show Friends, occurred following several ketamine injections administered by his residential aide, Iwamasa.
On 7th August, Iwamasa confessed his guilt in relation to the charge of plotting the ketamine distribution that led to a fatality – confessing that he had “administered ketamine injections to Perry without possessing a medical license.”
His impending punishment has been scheduled for the 6th of November.
During the final weeks prior his death, Perry is reported to have sought assistance from local drug pusher, Erik Fleming, who is alleged to have acquired ketamine from Sangha. On 8th August, Fleming admitted guilt in respect of both the ketamine distribution conspiracy and the resulting fatality from its distribution.
His sentencing date is fixed for the 30th of October.
Following a bail payment of $100,000 (£91,000), Plasencia has been released, whereas a court magistrate rejected bail for Sangha.