Featured Image Credit: Lester Cohen/WireImage / Michael Kovac/FilmMagic
Topics: Matthew Perry, US News, News
Lucy Devine
Topics: Matthew Perry, US News, News
One of the doctors charged in connection with the death of Matthew Perry has agreed to plead guilty, according to prosecutors.
Mark Chavez, 54, has pleaded guilty to one federal count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.
Chavez is one of five people charged in connection with Perry's death.
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“Chavez has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and has signed a plea agreement,” the Justice Department said 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 shared in a press conference earlier this month (August 15) that investigations into Perry's death revealed a 'broad underground criminal network' that 'took advantage' of 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 lead defendants have been confirmed as doctor Salvador Plasencia and drug trafficker Jasveen Sangha, aka The Ketamine Queen.
They both worked Chavez, Perry's live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, and a 'broker' 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 passed away.
According to the US Attorney's Office and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), 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 news of Perry's death broke.
On the day of Perry's death, in October 2023, it was revealed that Iwamasa had administered three shots of ketamine in the space of six hours.
In a plea agreement that Iwamasa signed with court officials, it was revealed that he administered ketamine to Perry at around 8:30 am.
About four hours later, he injected another dose while Perry was watching a movie at home.
According to the court papers, it was only about 40 minutes later that Perry asked for another ketamine shot.
Iwamasa proceeded to give the actor his third shot of the day, in as little as six hours, and reportedly left the house after to run some errands.
When he returned, he found Perry face down in his hot tub, with the actor being pronounced dead shortly after.