In a Los Angeles courtroom, San Diego physician Mark Chavez was sentenced for his role in the ketamine overdose that killed ‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry.
Chavez, 55, pleaded guilty in October 2024 to one federal count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. As part of the plea, he surrendered his medical license. The federal judge ordered eight months of home detention followed by three years of supervised release.
Chavez had been operating a ketamine infusion clinic in the San Diego area at the time of Perry’s death in 2023. He admitted that he and a second doctor, Salvador Plasencia, began supplying ketamine to Perry beginning around September 2023.
The actor had been receiving ketamine for depression through an off-label treatment prescribed by his regular doctor. However, Perry sought more ketamine than his doctor would provide, prompting Chavez and Plasencia to supply the drug illegally.
Perry, 54, was found dead on October 28, 2023, by an assistant in a jacuzzi at his Pacific Palisades home. The medical examiner ruled that ketamine was the primary cause of death.
Off-label ketamine treatment for depression has become increasingly common, but the drugs were supplied illegally in this case. The defendants’ actions violated federal law and contributed to Perry’s fatal overdose.
Salvador Plasencia, 44, of Santa Monica, was sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison on December 3 after pleading guilty last summer to four counts of distributing ketamine. He also surrendered his medical license.
Plasencia admitted that another patient connected him with Perry. Beginning about a month before Perry’s death, he illegally supplied the actor with 20 vials of ketamine totaling 100 mg, along with lozenges and syringes. He sold the drugs to Perry for $4,500 and asked Chavez to continue supplying them so they could become Perry’s ‘go-to’ provider, prosecutors said.
During the sentencing hearing, the judge heard arguments from both sides about Chavez’s level of culpability. ‘You and Mr. Plasencia helped Mr. Perry stay on the road of addiction that ultimately killed him,’ said Judge Sherilyn Garnett. The judge noted that Chavez was less willing to continue after learning of an adverse reaction by Perry in October 2023 and credited him for cooperating with investigators.
Chavez spoke at the hearing about the help he had provided to patients and the difficulty of delivering bad news to families as an emergency room doctor. ‘I take this very seriously, and I understand what it’s like to mourn the passing of a loved one… my heart goes out to the Perry family,’ he said.
While no victim impact statements were presented at the hearing, the family of Matthew Perry was not in court. The case highlights the broader issue of drug misuse and the legal consequences for those who facilitate it.
Five defendants were charged in Perry’s death and pleaded guilty. In addition to Chavez and Plasencia, Jasveen Sangha, known as the Ketamine Queen, faces up to 65 years in prison when she is sentenced on February 25. The outcomes underscore the seriousness with which the federal system treats illegal distribution of controlled substances.
Key Takeaways
- Mark Chavez sentenced to eight months home detention and three years supervised release for illegally supplying ketamine.
- Salvador Plasencia received 2½ years in prison for distributing ketamine to Matthew Perry.
- The case illustrates the legal risks of off-label ketamine use and the consequences of illegal distribution.
The sentencing of Chavez and others serves as a reminder of the legal ramifications for medical professionals who supply controlled substances without authorization.
