Doctor Charged With Selling Ketamine to Matthew Perry Before His Death Sentenced to House Arrest

Mark Chavez, one of two doctors charged in connection with Matthew Perry’s untimely death, was sentenced on Tuesday, December 16.

A judge sentenced Chavez to 8 months of house arrest along with an additional 3 years of supervised release and 300 hours of community service, per the Los Angeles Times. The doctor previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine last October.

He, along with Salvador Plasencia, another former doctor charged in the crime, acknowledged that they colluded to deceive medical ketamine supplies and illegally distribute the drug to the rich actor for a profit. Plasencia was previously sentenced to three years in prison.

In text messages obtained by the courts, the two doctors allegedly discussed how they could overcharge Perry for the drug, using blunt language like, “I wonder how much this moron will pay.”

Since surrendering his medical license, Chavez has reportedly been working as an Uber driver.

In addition to him and Plasencia, People reports that Jasveen Sangha, Erik Fleming and Perry’s live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa have been charged in connection with the actor’s death. Sangha, Iwamasa and Fleming are set to be sentenced in 2026.

Perry died on October 28, 2023, at age 54 from an accidental drowning caused by the acute effects of ketamine. The Friends alum — who had a history of substance abuse — was reportedly using ketamine in the weeks leading up to his death.