Doctor sentenced to 8 months home supervision in connection with Matthew Perry’s ketamine death

Matthew Perry’s ketamine death was a tragic event that shocked fans and the entertainment industry. The second doctor involved in the conspiracy to distribute ketamine to the actor, Mark Chavez, has now been sentenced to eight months of home supervision. This comes after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, admitting to selling fraudulently obtained ketamine to another doctor, Salvador Plasencia, who then sold it to Perry.

Chavez is one of five people charged and convicted in connection with Perry’s overdose death in 2023. While he did not directly provide the ketamine that led to Perry’s death, prosecutors stated that he was aware of the actor’s history of substance abuse and that the drug would be administered without medical supervision.

The sentencing also includes a supervised release term of three years and 300 hours of community service for Chavez. Prosecutors had initially sought a sentence of six months of home confinement with a two-year term of supervised release and at least 300 hours of community service. They highlighted Chavez’s role in providing ketamine to Plasencia through fraudulent means, which eventually reached Perry.

The government acknowledged that Chavez initially lied and tried to evade responsibility when investigators closed in on his illegal activities. However, they also commended him for eventually accepting responsibility and cooperating with the investigation. Chavez’s defense attorneys argued that his actions were limited and peripheral to the tragic events of Perry’s death, emphasizing that he did not directly supply the ketamine that caused the overdose.

Both Chavez and Plasencia surrendered their medical licenses after pleading guilty. Chavez, once a practicing emergency room physician, has faced significant consequences for his involvement in the illegal distribution of ketamine. Despite losing his profession and suffering public disgrace, his attorneys noted that he has complied with all terms of pretrial supervision and continues to express remorse for his actions.

The sentencing of Mark Chavez serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of involvement in illegal drug distribution, especially when it results in a tragic loss of life. The case surrounding Matthew Perry’s death has shed light on the dangers of substance abuse and the importance of holding accountable those who contribute to such harmful activities. On September 13, 2017, in Pasadena, California, a shocking incident involving actor Luke Perry unfolded. According to court documents, Dr. Richard Plasencia, a physician in the area, was implicated in a scheme to provide ketamine to Perry. The actor was introduced to Plasencia by one of his patients who described him as a “high profile person” willing to pay a large sum for ketamine treatment.

Plasencia, in collaboration with his mentor Chavez, procured vials of liquid ketamine and ketamine lozenges to fulfill Perry’s request. Text messages between Plasencia and Chavez revealed discussions about how much to charge Perry, with Plasencia referring to the actor as a “moron” and expressing curiosity about how much he would pay.

Over a period from September 30 to October 12, 2023, Plasencia provided Perry and his live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, with 20 vials of ketamine, lozenges, and syringes. The ketamine was administered by Plasencia at Perry’s home on multiple occasions, and Iwamasa was tasked with administering the medication in Plasencia’s absence.

Tragically, Perry passed away after receiving ketamine, with Iwamasa admitting to administering the drug on the day of the actor’s death. Iwamasa pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death and is facing sentencing in January 2026, with a potential 15-year prison term.

Additionally, two other individuals, Erik Fleming and Jasveen Sangha, were involved in distributing the ketamine that led to Perry’s death. Fleming pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution resulting in death, facing a possible 25-year prison sentence. Sangha, known as “The Ketamine Queen,” pleaded guilty to maintaining a drug-involved premises and multiple counts of ketamine distribution, with a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.

The case surrounding Luke Perry’s tragic death sheds light on the dangers of illicit drug distribution and the severe consequences that can result from such actions. The sentencing of those involved serves as a warning to others involved in similar criminal activities.