On October 8, 2023, emergency services arrived at Friends star Matthew Perry’s Pacific Palisades home after Perry’s longtime assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, called and reported that the actor had suffered a “cardiac event.” Iwasmasa had reportedly found Mr. Perry unconscious in his hot tub. Despite the efforts of first responders, they were unable to revive Mr. Perry, and he was pronounced dead at 54.
The coroner’s report ruled the cause of death as acute ketamine effects with accompanying factors including drowning and coronary artery disease. Initial autopsy findings indicated negative results for methamphetamine and fentanyl, however, the prominence of ketamine in his system raised alarms about his access to the substance from illicit sources.
In May 2024, the Los Angeles Police Department along with the Drug Enforcement Administration announced a formal investigation to trace how Perry acquired the ketamine that proved fatal. This inquiry revealed a network of individuals involved in supplying drugs to the actor, leading to multiple arrests.
In a significant development, Dr. Mark Chavez, a San Diego-based physician, has pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Chavez’s involvement stemmed from his decision to divert vials of the drug from his former clinic, which were subsequently sold to associate Dr. Salvador Plasencia for distribution to Perry.
A doctor [Chavez] who arranged to sell massive vials of ketamine for Matthew Perry in the month before his overdose death has entered a guilty plea to a single federal charge, and could face up to 10 years in prison.
The 54-year-old pleaded guilty Wednesday to one federal count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, and will be sentenced April 2. He is free on $50,000 bond, though he agreed to surrender his California medical license and discontinue his practice, according to court documents obtained by TheWrap.
Related: Something More Sinister? Matthew Perry’s Ex Doubts His Ketamine Death
Chavez’s guilty plea included an acknowledgment of his role in Perry’s overdose, admitting he put profits over patient safety. He faces up to ten years in prison and agreed to surrender his medical license as a part of his plea deal. This move marks a pivotal point in the unfolding legal consequences linked to Perry’s tragic demise, highlighting a significant breach of medical ethics and trust.
In conjunction with Chavez’s plea, several others associated with Perry’s drug supply have also faced legal repercussions. Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s live-in assistant, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine, resulting in death. Reports indicate that Iwamasa was pivotal in administering the drug to Perry, often multiple times daily, including the day of his overdose.
Related: Family, Friends, and Costars Remember the Late Matthew Perry
Erik Fleming, an acquaintance of Perry’s, has also pleaded guilty, admitting to distributing ketamine obtained from Jasveen Sangha, known as the “Ketamine Queen.” Sangha, alongside Dr. Salvador Plasencia, faces serious charges including conspiracy to distribute ketamine that resulted in Perry’s death, although both have pleaded not guilty.
Both Ms. Singha and Dr. Plasencia face the most serious charges and the most amount of jail time. Dr. Plasencia — who will head to trial later this month — faces up to 120 years in prison. Ms. Singha faces as little as ten years and much as life in prison.
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