In a significant development in the case surrounding the tragic death of actor Matthew Perry, a doctor who pleaded guilty to his role in a scheme to supply the drug ketamine has been sentenced. Dr. Stephen Paul Chavez, 55, was sentenced on Tuesday to eight months of home confinement by Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett in a federal courtroom in Los Angeles.
The Sentence and Courtroom Statements
The sentence also includes three years of supervised release. Before the judge delivered the sentence, Chavez addressed the court, expressing remorse. He mentioned that having recently lost a loved one himself, he understood the grief caused by Perry's passing. "I just want to say my heart goes out to the Perry family," Chavez stated in the courtroom.
Chavez's legal team highlighted his cooperation with investigators. Attorney Matthew Binninger argued that Chavez had "accepted responsibility early" by working with authorities and voluntarily surrendering his medical license ahead of his detention hearing. Binninger called these "real steps that someone takes toward accountability" and described the final sentence as a "fair and just outcome" for the case.
The Chain of Supply Exploiting a Struggling Addict
The court proceedings revealed a disturbing chain of supply that exploited Matthew Perry's well-documented struggles with addiction. Perry had been legally receiving ketamine, a surgical anesthetic, under a doctor's supervision as an off-label treatment for depression. However, when his regular physician refused to provide the increased amounts he sought, Perry turned to Dr. Salvador Plasencia.
Plasencia, who was sentenced to two and a half years in prison earlier this month, admitted to knowingly taking advantage of Perry, acknowledging the actor was a "struggling addict." Court filings revealed that Plasencia even texted Chavez, calling Perry a "moron" who could be exploited for money.
Chavez admitted to obtaining the ketamine from a wholesale distributor under false pretenses. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. He acquired the drug and provided it to Plasencia, who then supplied it to Perry. Chavez admitted to supplying a total of 22 five-milliliter vials of ketamine and nine ketamine lozenges, meeting Plasencia between San Diego and Los Angeles to hand off the drugs obtained via fraudulent prescriptions.
Matthew Perry's Legacy and the Ongoing Case
Matthew Perry, beloved for his role as Chandler Bing on the iconic sitcom "Friends," had battled addiction for decades, a struggle he was remarkably open about. He was found dead by his assistant on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54. The medical examiner later ruled that the acute effects of ketamine were the primary cause of his death.
Chavez is the second of five defendants who have pleaded guilty in connection with Perry's death to be sentenced. As part of his sentence, he will also be required to complete 300 hours of community service. Judge Garnett has indicated she will ensure the sentences for the remaining three defendants, who will be sentenced in the coming months, are proportionate and make sense in relation to one another.
This case highlights the severe dangers of prescription drug misuse and the illegal diversion of controlled substances, even in contexts where they may have legitimate medical uses. It serves as a somber reminder of the devastating consequences of addiction.
