A doctor implicated in Matthew Perry’s death has decided to plead guilty, as stated by prosecutors.
Mark Chavez, aged 54, has admitted to one federal charge of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.
Chavez is among five individuals facing charges related to Perry’s demise.
“Chavez has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and has signed a plea agreement,” the Justice Department announced on Friday (30 August).
“At his arraignment, [United States Magistrate Judge Jean P. Rosenbluth] will set a date for Chavez’s change of plea proceeding – or direct the parties to contact the chambers of the federal district judge assigned to the case to set the hearing date.”
The US Department of Justice disclosed in a press conference earlier this month (August 15) that their investigation into Perry’s death uncovered a ‘broad underground criminal network’ that exploited the actor by selling him ketamine.
“This network included a live-in assistant, various go-betweens, two medical doctors, and a major source of drug supply known as ‘The Ketamine Queen’,” shared US Attorney Martin Estrada.
“These defendants took advantage of Mr. Perry’s addiction issues to enrich themselves. They knew what they were doing was wrong. They knew what they were doing was risking great danger to Mr. Perry.
“But they did it anyways. In the end, these defendants were more interested in profiting off Mr. Perry than caring for his well being.”
The primary defendants have been identified as doctor Salvador Plasencia and drug trafficker Jasveen Sangha, also known as The Ketamine Queen.
They collaborated with Chavez, Perry’s live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, and a ‘broker’ named Erik Fleming.
Authorities estimate that Iwamasa used Perry’s money to pay Plasencia $55,000 for ketamine between September 20, 2023, and October 28, 2023, the day Perry died.
The US Attorney’s Office and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) indicated that Plasencia mocked Perry in a 2023 message, writing, “I wonder how much this moron will pay.”
Meanwhile, Sangha, ‘The Ketamine Queen,’ reportedly texted: “Delete all our messages” to Fleming after Perry’s death was reported.
On the day Perry died in October 2023, it was revealed that Iwamasa administered three shots of ketamine within six hours.
The plea agreement Iwamasa signed with court officials disclosed that he first gave Perry ketamine at around 8:30 am.
Approximately four hours later, he injected another dose while Perry was watching a movie at home.
According to court documents, only about 40 minutes later, Perry asked for another ketamine shot.
Iwamasa proceeded to administer the third shot of the day within six hours and reportedly left the house to run errands.
Upon his return, he found Perry face down in his hot tub, with the actor being pronounced dead shortly thereafter.