One of the doctors charged in the death of Friends star Matthew Perry has just pleaded guilty in the case.
According to NBC News, 54-year-old Mark Chavez appeared in federal court in Los Angeles on Oct. 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. In the meantime, he's surrendered his passport and ability to practice medicine and is out on a $50,000 bond.
An 18-count indictment filed in August outlined a nefarious scheme involving Chavez and four other individuals, including another doctor. Before Perry's death in October 2023, Chavez ran a ketamine clinic and reportedly sold ketamine lozenges to Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who in turn distributed them to Perry. Plasencia has pleaded not guilty to one county to distribute ketamine, as has charged drug dealer Jasveen Sangha, also known as "The Ketamine Queen."
Related: 'Friends' Cast Breaks Silence on the Death of Matthew Perry
Court documents describe how Plasencia and Chavez discussed how much to charge Perry for the ketamine, which the actor was pursuing in treatment of depression and anxiety. "I wonder how much this moron will pay," Plasencia purportedly said over email.
Chavez's attorney Matthew Binninger told reporters after his court appearance in August that his client "is incredibly remorseful for what happened. Not just because it happened to Matthew Perry, but because it happened to a patient," according to Fox News. "He is trying to do everything in his power to right the wrong that happened here."
After his client appeared in court today, Binninger explained what will happen with regard to Chavez practicing medicine going forward.
"The factual basis from the plea agreement will be used as the basis for the medical board to issue a complaint against him, requesting the surrender of his license. We will agree with that conclusion, and at that point, his license will be revoked," he said. "I cannot give you an exact timeline about when that will happen because it is up to the medical board, but the wheels are in motion, and now that the guilty plea has been entered it should happen sooner than later."
Chavez will learn his fate on Apr. 2, 2025.
