One of two doctors accused of supplying ketamine to Matthew Perry pleaded guilty Wednesday to illegally distributing the surgical anesthetic.
Dr. Mark Chavez is among three defendants who signed a plea deal and face lesser charges in Perry's death, which federal prosecutors attributed to a conspiracy by several individuals to provide the actor with the drug.
The other two defendants who have reached plea deals are Perry's personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, and alleged drug dealer Erik Fleming.
Two other defendants are not cooperating with prosecutors and face much more serious conspiracy charges.
Jasveen Sangha, also known as the “Ketamine Queen,” presented herself as “a celebrity drug dealer with high-quality products,” according to court documents. She is accused of supplying ketamine to Perry's assistant. Dr. Salvador Plasencia, called “Dr. P,” allegedly injected the actor with the drug at his Pacific Palisades home. Both have pleaded not guilty and will be tried in March.
During a brief appearance in federal court in Los Angeles on Wednesday, Chavez was asked how he pleaded and responded: “Guilty, your honor.” He is due back for sentencing in April and could face up to 10 years in federal prison. As part of his statement, Chávez agreed to surrender his medical license. He is free after posting bail of $50,000.
Perry, 54, was found dead in the hot tub of his Pacific Palisades home on October 28. He died from “acute effects of ketamine,” according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office. His death triggered a multi-agency federal investigation.
Last month, prosecutors unsealed charges against what U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada called an “extensive underground criminal network” that supplied the actor.
In late September, about a month before Perry's death, prosecutors allege, Plasencia learned that the actor was interested in obtaining ketamine, a legal medication commonly used as an anesthetic, according to charging documents in the case.
Perry had taken the medication through his regular doctor in an unapproved treatment for depression. But users of the drug use it recreationally, attracted by its dissociative effects.
After learning of Perry's interest, Plasencia contacted Chavez, who previously operated a ketamine clinic, to obtain the medication to sell to the actor, authorities said. In text messages to Chavez, Plasencia discussed how much to charge Perry for ketamine, saying, “I wonder how much this asshole is paying” and “Let's find out,” according to court records. Doctors charged Perry $2,000 for a dose that cost Chavez $12, prosecutors allege.
Chavez, as part of the plea agreement, admitted to diverting ketamine from his San Diego clinic to sell to Plasencia. Chavez admitted that he lied to a drug distributor and submitted a prescription in the name of a former patient without his consent.
Chavez transferred 22 vials of ketamine and nine ketamine pills, which were obtained fraudulently, to Plasencia for sale to Perry. Chavez “was fully aware that selling vials of ketamine to a patient to self-administer was illegal,” according to the plea agreement.
Plasencia, although prohibited by the DEA from prescribing controlled substances, continues to practice medicine but must inform patients about the ongoing criminal case.
Plasencia faces one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of altering and falsifying documents or records related to the federal investigation. If convicted, he faces 10 years for each ketamine-related charge and 20 years for each forgery charge.
