Another former doctor, Mark Chavez, was sentenced to federal prison in relation to Hollywood star Matthew Perry’s death. The Friends star passed away from a lethal ketamine overdose in 2023. The sentencing comes after another doctor, Salvador Plasencia, was also sent to prison in relation to the death.
Mark Chavez sentenced post Matthew Perry’s overdose death
Mark Chavez, a former doctor from California, was sentenced to 8 months of home detention and 3 years of supervised release on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, in relation to Matthew Perry’s ketamine overdose death. He will also be required to complete 300 hours of community service and pay a $100 special assessment to the U.S. government (via NBC).
The former doctor pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute ketamine to Perry in 2024. Chavez was one of five people charged in connection with Perry’s death. Interestingly, there was another doctor involved in this case, Salvador Plasencia, who also supplied ketamine to Perry. Plasencia received 30 months in federal prison.
Chavez was a licensed physician in San Diego. He operated a ketamine clinic. As per prosecutors, Chavez was the one who sold ketamine to Plasencia, who later distributed it to Perry. “My heart goes out to the Perry family,” Chavez said outside of court after his sentencing.
On October 28, 2023, Matthew Perry, who had a history of substance abuse, was found unresponsive in a hot tub. On December 15, it was revealed that Perry had died from a lethal dose of ketamine. Other factors that further affected the actor included the effects of buprenorphine, drowning, and coronary artery disease.
Soon, an investigation began about how Perry managed to get such a high amount of ketamine in the first place. Ultimately, five people were singled out for his death.
Before his death, Matthew Perry spoke out about his struggles with addiction in his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing.
Originally reported by Sourav Chakraborty on ComingSoon.net.
