Mark Chavez, the San Diego doctor who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine in connection with the death of "Friends" actor Matthew Perry, has been sentenced to eight months of home confinement and 300 hours of community service. This development was reported by ABC7 following the hearing presided over by Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett. Chavez, who admitted to supplying the anesthetic drug, will also be under supervised release for three years.
Perry's struggle with addiction was well-known, dating back to his days on the hit TV show "Friends", where he played the character Chandler Bing. Last year, Chavez was one of five individuals charged and convicted in Perry's death. The 54-year-old was found unresponsive in a jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home in October 2023. According to FOX 11, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office cited the "acute effects of ketamine" as a contributing factor, in addition to drowning, coronary artery disease, and effects of buprenorphine, which is used to treat opioid use disorder.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia, another physician involved in the case, has also faced legal repercussions. Plasencia was sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing ketamine to Perry and his assistant, CBS News reports. Chillingly, court documents revealed by federal prosecutors show text messages in which Plasencia referred to Perry as a "moron" and questioned how much he would pay for the drug.
Additional defendants in the case include Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s assistant, and dealers Erik Fleming and Jasveen Sangha, the latter dubbed the "Ketamine Queen" by authorities, as per FOX 11. Fleming is set to be sentenced in January 2026 and could face up to 25 years in federal prison, while Sangha has pled guilty to multiple charges related to ketamine distribution and is awaiting sentencing in February 2026, which could net her up to 65 years behind bars.
Despite Chavez and Plasencia not providing the ketamine that ultimately led to Perry's passing, the prosecutors argued that they were well aware of the actor's substance abuse struggles and that the drug would likely be used without proper medical oversight. Chavez's own admission about obtaining and selling ketamine illegally was corroborated by his relinquishing of his medical license and court statements indicating a flagrant disregard for legal and ethical standards in medicine.
