Former Physician Sentenced Over Illegal Ketamine Linked to Friends’ Star Matthew Perry Overdose

In a continued unfolding of judicial proceedings related to the tragic death of acclaimed actor Matthew Perry, a federal judge in California has imposed a sentence of eight months of home confinement on Dr. Mark Chavez, a 55-year-old former physician based in San Diego, for his involvement in the unlawful distribution of ketamine that contributed to the "Friends" star's fatal overdose in 2023.

Chavez entered a guilty plea in October to a single felony charge of conspiracy to distribute the controlled prescription anesthetic, subsequently relinquishing his medical license in November as part of the resolution process. During Tuesday's sentencing hearing, Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett supplemented the home confinement term with a mandate for 300 hours of community service, reflecting a balanced approach to accountability in this high-profile case.

Pursuant to the stipulated plea agreement, Chavez acknowledged his role in transferring quantities of ketamine to fellow physician Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who proceeded to furnish the substance to Perry for non-medical purposes. Although the particular dose responsible for Perry's demise did not trace directly to Chavez's supplies, his participation in the illicit supply chain was deemed sufficient to establish criminal liability within the broader conspiracy.

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Dr. Salvador Plasencia, aged 44, faced a substantially more severe consequence earlier this month when he was sentenced to two and a half years of imprisonment following his guilty pleas to four counts of illegal drug distribution. Together, Chavez and Plasencia represent the initial pair among five defendants convicted in the multifaceted federal investigation into the circumstances surrounding Perry's ketamine-related death to receive their respective punishments.

The pending sentencings involve the remaining three individuals implicated: Jasveen Sangha, 42, notorious in investigative circles as the "Ketamine Queen" for her alleged central role in drug trafficking; intermediary dealer Erik Fleming, 56; and Kenneth Iwamasa, 60, Perry's longtime personal assistant who admitted to administering injections and discovering the actor unresponsive and face-down in his Los Angeles residence jacuzzi on October 28, 2023, where acute ketamine effects precipitated loss of consciousness and subsequent drowning.

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