{"id":129011,"date":"2024-10-03T16:23:14","date_gmt":"2024-10-03T16:23:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/03\/matthew-perry-death-doctor-pleads-guilty-to-distributing-ketamine-national-globalnews-ca\/"},"modified":"2024-10-03T16:23:14","modified_gmt":"2024-10-03T16:23:14","slug":"matthew-perry-death-doctor-pleads-guilty-to-distributing-ketamine-national-globalnews-ca","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/10\/03\/matthew-perry-death-doctor-pleads-guilty-to-distributing-ketamine-national-globalnews-ca\/","title":{"rendered":"Matthew Perry death: Doctor pleads guilty to distributing ketamine – National | Globalnews.ca"},"content":{"rendered":"


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One of two doctors charged in connection with\u00a0Friends\u00a0<\/em>actor Matthew Perry<\/a>\u2018s overdose death pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

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Mark Chavez, 54, entered his guilty plea<\/a> during an appearance in the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. The San Diego-based physician told the judge he\u2019d illegally distributed ketamine, a commonly used surgical anesthetic, for personal financial gain.<\/p>\n

After Wednesday\u2019s hearing, Chavez\u2019s lawyer told reporters his client has taken the investigation \u201cincredibly seriously\u201d and has \u201caccepted responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe admitted a lot of facts on the record. He\u2019s cooperating with the government,\u201d lawyer Matthew Binninger said.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tMark Chavez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death and serious bodily injury on Oct. 2, 2024.\t\t\t\t<\/span>
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\n\t\t\t\t\tPatrick T. Fallon \/ AFP via Getty Images\t\t\t\t<\/cite>
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Perry, who played Chandler Bing on the sitcom\u00a0Friends<\/em>, died on Oct. 28, 2023<\/a>, from the acute effects of ketamine<\/a>. He was discovered unresponsive in a jacuzzi at his home in Los Angeles. Perry was 54.<\/p>\n

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Chavez faces up to 10 years in prison. He has already surrendered his medical licence.<\/p>\n

Chavez in August initially pleaded not guilty, but later signed an agreement with prosecutors. In exchange for lesser charges, Chavez agreed to cooperate with authorities as they targeted another doctor and an alleged dealer, known as the \u201cKetamine Queen<\/a>\u201d of Los Angeles, in connection with Perry\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

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Salvador Plasencia has been charged with illegally supplying ketamine to Perry, while alleged dealer Jasveen Sangha has been accused of selling the actor the lethal dose. Both have pleaded not guilty.<\/p>\n

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