Doctor pleads guilty to conspiracy to distribute Ketamine in connection with Matthew Perry’s death charge | Health

CNN
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Mark Chavez, one of many two docs charged in connection with “Friends” star Matthew Perry’s death, has pleaded guilty to one rely of conspiracy to distribute ketamine as a part of a plea settlement throughout a court docket look in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

In accordance with the settlement, Chavez formally pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute ketamine to Perry, who died in October 2023 due to “acute effects” of the anesthetic and subsequent drowning, in accordance to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office post-mortem report. He was 54.

Chavez made formal his plea settlement with prosecutors throughout Wednesday’s listening to. The decide set his sentencing for April 2, 2025. Chavez is dealing with up to ten years in jail, which is the utmost really helpful sentence outlined in the plea settlement.

CNN has reached out to Chavez’s legal professional and the US Attorney’s Office for remark.

During a court docket look final month, Chavez acknowledged the costs and waived his proper to a grand jury indictment.

Chavez is accused of offering Dr. Salvador Plasencia – who can be charged in connection with Perry’s death and has beforehand pleaded not guilty – with the ketamine given to Perry by means of a fraudulent prescription, in accordance to court docket paperwork.

Plasencia and Chavez are among the many 5 individuals who have been charged in connection with the death of the beloved actor. Perry’s private assistant Kenneth Iwamasa and an acquaintance of Perry’s, Erik Fleming, had been additionally charged and, alongside with Chavez, have been cooperative with prosecutors.

Fleming, who pleaded guilty to one rely of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one rely of distribution of ketamine ensuing in death, and Iwamasa, who pleaded guilty to one rely of conspiracy to distribute ketamine inflicting death, have sentencing dates set in the approaching months.

Jasveen Sangha – who prosecutors have mentioned ran what amounted to “a drug selling emporium” in her house – and Plasencia have pleaded not guilty to their respective charges that embrace falsifying medical data and conspiracy to distribute amongst others.

Sangha and Plasencia can be tried collectively, in accordance to prosecutors. The trial is scheduled to start on March 4, 2025 and a pretrial listening to is scheduled for February 19.

Chavez acquired his medical diploma in 2004 from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, in accordance to his web site, which advertises tailor-made well being companies.

He has surrendered his medical license in accordance with the plea settlement, his legal professional Matthew Binninger beforehand mentioned.

CNN’s Taylor Romine, Cheri Mossburg, Nick Watt and Jack Hannah contributed to this report.