Doctor Charged in Matthew Perry Death Case Pleads Guilty to Ketamine Distribution Charge

10/02/2024 04:26 PM

Mark Chavez was one of five defendants charged in relation to the investigation into Perry's death

One of the two doctors charged in connection with the ketamine-related death of Matthew Perry has officially pleaded guilty.

Mark Chavez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute ketamine in federal court in Los Angeles at a 11 a.m. pacific hearing on Wednesday, Oct. 2, according to reports from the Associated Press, Deadline and Fox 11.

Chavez, who is free on $50,000 bond, exited the courtroom after entering his plea and will be sentenced at a later date. He faces up to 10 years in prison.

In his plea agreement, previously obtained by PEOPLE, Chavez, who ran a ketamine clinic, said he sold the drug to Dr. Salvador Plasencia, one of the other defendants in the case, who is accused of then selling the ketamine to Perry's assistant Kenneth Iwamasa.

Plasencia has pleaded not guilty to several charges in connection with the case, while Iwamasa previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death.

Perry died on Oct. 28, 2023 from "acute effects of ketamine."

A total of five defendants, including Chavez, were charged in connection with the investigation surrounding the Friendsstar's death.

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Charged in addition to Chavez, Iwamasa and Plasencia were Jasveen Sangha — dubbed the "Ketamine Queen" by prosecutors — and Erik Fleming, an acquaintance of Perry's.

Sangha is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute ketamine and five counts of distribution of ketamine. She has pleaded not guilty.

Fleming, who has pleaded guilty to related charges, allegedly acted as an intermediary between Sangha and Iwamasa in the purchase of 50 vials of ketamine.

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