San Diego doctor Mark Chavez became the third person to plead guilty in the investigation surrounding Matthew Perry’s tragic death. Dr Chavez, 54, on Wednesday took the first step in cooperation with federal prosecutors, agreeing to a plea deal that could prove pivotal in targeting larger figures believed to be responsible for Perry’s demise.
The “Friends” star, who played Chandler Bing, was found dead in October 2023 from a drug overdose that has now sparked a wide-reaching investigation into the illegal distribution of ketamine.
The case exposed the chilling reality of how an off-label treatment for depression spiraled into a lethal cocktail. Perry, who had battled addiction for years, sought refuge in ketamine therapy—a controversial, yet increasingly common treatment for depression. However, as his dependency grew, 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 US District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, admitted his role in this dangerous network. His admission came as prosecutors recounted how he conspired with Plasencia to distribute ketamine to Perry through fraudulent prescriptions.
Chavez, who once took an oath to do no harm, found himself supplying over 22 vials and nine lozenges of the powerful anesthetic. It was this very drug that Perry’s assistant would find beside the actor’s lifeless body that fateful October day.
“Are you pleading guilty because you did the things the prosecutors described?” Judge Garnett asked Chavez.
“Yes, your honor,” he replied.
The plea agreement Chavez signed in July binds him to cooperate fully as federal prosecutors continue to build their case against Plasencia, the doctor who allegedly delivered the fatal doses, and Sangha, the woman whose reputation as a drug supplier looms large in Los Angeles. Their roles, prosecutors argue, were far more sinister, as they preyed on Perry’s vulnerability in his final months. US Attorney Martin Estrada, during a press conference in August, pointed to their exploitation of Perry’s history of addiction, providing him with “amounts they knew were dangerous.”
Plasencia and Sangha are the ultimate targets. Text messages between Plasencia and Chavez, revealed in court filings, shed light on the extent of their illicit operations. In one exchange, Plasencia mused about how much Perry might pay for the drugs, calling the actor a “moron” and suggesting that they make themselves his go-to suppliers. Chavez, while hesitant at first, seemed to approve—so long as they stayed away from “shady stuff”.
Chavez remains free on bond until his April 2 sentencing, having surrendered his passport and medical license as part of the agreement.
Outside the courtroom, Chavez’s lawyer, Matthew Binninger, spoke briefly, signaling that his client had come to terms with his role in the tragic chain of events. “Mark entered his plea of guilty and that’s now public record,” Binninger said. “You accept responsibility and then you set sentencing,” he said.