A physician involved in the illegal supply of ketamine to actor Matthew Perry has been sentenced to home confinement, avoiding a prison term.
Courtroom Sentencing and Statement
On Tuesday, 2 October 2024, in a federal courtroom in Los Angeles, Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett sentenced 55-year-old Dr Mark Chavez to eight months of home confinement and three years of supervised release. Chavez had previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.
Before the sentence was delivered, Chavez addressed the court, stating that having recently lost a loved one, he understood the grief caused by Perry's death. "I just want to say my heart goes out to the Perry family," he told the judge.
The Scheme and Co-conspirator
Chavez was found to have acquired ketamine under false pretences from a wholesale distributor and provided it to another doctor, Dr Salvador Plasencia. Plasencia, who was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison earlier in October, then sold the drug to Matthew Perry in the months leading up to the actor's death in October 2023.
Court filings revealed that Plasencia had texted Chavez, calling Perry a "moron" who could be exploited for money, admitting he took advantage of the struggling addict.
Legal Distinctions and Fallout
Chavez's legal team emphasised his early cooperation with investigators and his decision to voluntarily surrender his medical licence ahead of his detention hearing. His attorney, Matthew Binninger, called the sentence a "fair and just outcome."
While Perry had been legally prescribed ketamine for depression treatment by his regular doctor, he sought larger quantities than were medically advised. Approximately a month before his death, he connected with Plasencia, who then enlisted Chavez. Chavez admitted to supplying 22 5ml vials of ketamine and nine ketamine lozenges.
The Los Angeles County medical examiner ruled that ketamine was the primary cause of Matthew Perry's death on 28 October 2023. Chavez is the second of five defendants to be sentenced in connection with the case. He has also been ordered to complete 300 hours of community service.
Judge Garnett indicated she would ensure the sentences for the remaining three defendants, who have pleaded guilty and await sentencing, are proportionate to one another.
