One of the doctors charged in connection with the death of Matthew Perry pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Los Angeles to distributing ketamine.
• Also read: The ‘Ketamine Queen’ denies knowing Matthew Perry
Dr. Mark Chavez of San Diego reportedly signed a plea deal with prosecutors in August after the star’s fatal overdose. Friendslast year, according to the New York Post.
Prosecutors reportedly offered lesser sentences to Dr. Chavez and two others in exchange for their cooperation in going after another doctor and the Los Angeles “ketamine queen.”
Dr. Chavez allegedly admitted in his plea agreement to obtaining ketamine from his former clinic and a distributor, where he submitted a fraudulent prescription.
AFP
He was reportedly released after handing over his passport and returning his medical license.
He reportedly declared in court last August that he was “incredibly remorseful” and that he was “trying to do everything in his power to right the wrong that happened here.” .
If he pleads guilty on Wednesday, he could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison.
Ketamine sold to Perry
The medical examiner concluded that ketamine was the primary cause of Matthew Perry’s death.
The actor allegedly used the drug through his doctor, but tried to find someone else to sell him more ketamine.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia, accused of illegally selling ketamine to Matthew Perry the month before his death, allegedly asked Dr. Chavez to get it for him.
The two reportedly met in Costa Mesa and exchanged at least four flakes of ketamine.
Dr. Plasencia allegedly sold the drug to Perry for US$4,500, then asked Dr. Chevez to become the actor’s ketamine “reference.”
– With information from the New York Post
