One of the doctors accused of death Friends Star Matthew Perry pleaded guilty in the case.
Accordingly NBC NewsMark Chavez, 54, appeared in federal court in Los Angeles on October 2 and formally pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute ketamine to the beloved actor. He faces up to 10 years in prison and will be sentenced next spring. Meanwhile, he surrendered his passport and ability to practice medicine and was released on $50,000 bail.
The 18-count indictment filed in August outlined a nefarious scheme involving Chavez and four others, including another doctor. Prior to Perry's death in October 2023, Chavez ran a ketamine clinic and reportedly worked with Dr. Salvador was selling ketamine lozenges to Plasencia, who was distributing them to Perry. Plasencia has pleaded not guilty to one count of distributing ketamine in a county, as she accused drug dealer Jasveen Sangha, also known as the “Ketamine Queen.”
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Court documents describe Plasencia and Chavez discussing how much Perry should be charged for ketamine, which the actor uses to treat depression and anxiety. “I wonder how much this moron will pay,” Plasencia allegedly said via email.
Chavez's attorney, Matthew Binninger, told reporters after appearing in court in August that his client was “incredibly remorseful for what happened. Not only because it happened to Matthew Perry, but because it happened to a patient.” Fox News. “He's trying to do everything he can to right the wrong that happened here.”
After his client appeared in court today, Binninger explained what will happen next regarding Chavez's practice as a doctor.
“The factual basis of the plea agreement will be used as the basis for the medical board to file a complaint against him and request that his license be revoked. We will agree with that conclusion and at that point his license will be revoked,” he said. “I can't give you an exact timeline for when that will happen because that is the medical board's decision, but the wheels are in motion and now that criminal charges have been filed it has to happen sooner rather than later.”
Chavez will learn his fate on April 2, 2025.