OAN Staff Brooke Mallory
1:02 PM – Thursday, October 3, 2024
One of the two medical professionals accused of being involved in Matthew Perry's drug-related death has pleaded guilty to illegally providing ketamine to the “Friends” actor in exchange for a cash payment.
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Dr. Mark Chavez appeared in federal court in Los Angeles on Wednesday to discuss a plea deal.
Chavez admitted to the judge that he understood the purpose of the conspiracy before pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, which resulted in death and serious bodily injury.
Chavez's sentencing is scheduled for April 2.n.d.2025, and he remains out on bond.
Mr. Chavez's lawyer, Matthew Binninger, argued that the doctor had “admitted responsibility.”
“he [pleaded] Guilty. He admitted many of the facts on record. He is cooperating with the government,” Binninger told reporters after Wednesday's hearing. “He takes this incredibly seriously.”
Chavez originally pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in August.
“He's going to do everything he can to right the wrongs that happened here,” Binninger told reporters after his arraignment. “He is doing everything in his power to cooperate and help in this situation and is incredibly remorseful.”
Chavez agreed to surrender his medical license in exchange for a reduced sentence. Binninger said Chavez began the process of returning his medical license on Wednesday.
Additionally, prosecutors said Chavez could spend up to 10 years in prison.
Following the death of 54-year-old Perry on October 28th.thChavez, who died of a ketamine overdose in his home in 2023, is one of five people facing federal charges.
The “Friends” actor was found unconscious in the Jacuzzi of his Los Angeles home, authorities said. The post-mortem report said the acute effects of ketamine were the cause of his death.
“Ketamine overdose deaths are relatively rare when used alone, but the risk is greater when ketamine is combined with other drugs that affect breathing, such as alcohol or other sedatives. ” says the report. oxford treatment center. “Taking multiple substances together can amplify the effects and risks of each substance, leading to more serious health consequences.”
The Justice Department also believes that Mr. Chavez was part of an underground criminal network that he used as a personal piggy bank by illegally selling ketamine to Mr. Perry.
Prosecutors said Chavez, 54, gave ketamine to Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 42, a licensed physician he had known for at least 20 years, knowing that Perry, who was battling an addiction to ketamine, would buy the drug. admitted that it had been provided.
The Justice Department believes Jasveen Sangha, 41, the woman known as the “Queen of Ketamine,” is one of the main defendants in the case, along with Plasencia. She is charged with selling Perry the ketamine batch that ultimately led to his death. Both men pleaded not guilty when they were arrested in August.
In court filings, Eric Fleming, 54, also admitted to providing ketamine to Perry, and Perry's live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, 59, also administered ketamine. acknowledged.
Plea agreement filed on August 15thth The Chavez case states that Plasencia called Chavez on September 30th.th2023, demanded ketamine from Perry who was “willing to pay a premium.”
According to details of the plea agreement, Chavez also sent a photo of a ketamine lozenge, acknowledged receiving it, and said he was willing to give the ketamine in exchange for money.
Chavez kept at least 12 vials of ketamine until he left a ketamine infusion clinic in San Diego in July 2023. He also ingested 30 ketamine lozenges obtained by submitting false prescriptions without the patient's knowledge.
According to the plea agreement, Chavez kept at least 12 ketamine vials after he was discharged from a ketamine infusion clinic in San Diego in July 2023. He also took 30 ketamine lozenges obtained by submitting false prescriptions without the knowledge of other patients.
As part of the alleged scheme, Mr. Chavez and Mr. Plasencia met three times, as stated in the plea agreement. Chavez admitted to giving nine ketamine lozenges and at least 22 bottles of liquid ketamine, all of which he knew Perry would use.
However, according to the plea agreement, Chavez soon discovered that the California Medical Board was investigating allegations related to how he improperly administered ketamine at his previous ketamine clinic.
Chavez then informed Placencia that he no longer had access to ketamine to sell to Perry.
According to the plea agreement, Chavez denied possession of liquid ketamine recovered from the clinic during an Oct. 19, 2023, meeting with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
However, he admitted that he had written a fictitious prescription for ketamine lozenges and had previously claimed that he had thrown the ketamine lozenges away because they had melted in his car.
“At all appropriate points during the interrogation, defendant Chavez concealed from investigators that he had in fact transported ketamine to co-conspirator Placencia,” the plea agreement states.
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