2nd doctor in Matthew Perry's ketamine death sentenced to 8 months of home confinement

LOS ANGELES -- A doctor who pleaded guilty in a scheme to supply ketamine to actor Matthew Perry was sentenced Tuesday to eight months of home confinement.

The sentencing for Dr. Mark Chavez, of San Diego, also includes three years of supervised release and 300 hours of community service for his role in the "Friends" star's overdose death, Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett ruled.

Chavez spoke outside federal court following the sentencing hearing.

"My heart goes out to the Perry family," said Chavez, who also thanked his parents for their support.

"We believe that this is a fair and just outcome for this case," said defense attorney Matthew Binninger outside court.

Chavez admitted to illegally supplying Ketamine to Perry, who died of an overdose in 2023. He also surrendered his medical license.

Perry struggled with addiction for years, dating back to his time on "Friends," when he became one of the biggest TV stars of his generation as Chandler Bing. He starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 on NBC's megahit.

Chavez is one of five people charged and convicted in connection with the "Friends" actor's death. He pleaded guilty last year to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, admitting to selling fraudulently obtained ketamine to another doctor, Salvador Plasencia, that was then sold to Perry in the weeks before the actor died from an overdose.

The two doctors did not provide the ketamine that ultimately killed Perry, who was discovered unresponsive in a jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home in October 2023 at the age of 54. Though federal prosecutors said they knew that the actor had a history of substance abuse and that the drug would be administered without medical supervision.

Plasencia, who also gave up his medical license, was sentenced to more than two years in prison, for his role in Perry's death. Plasencia admitted to distributing 20 vials of ketamine, ketamine lozenges and syringes to Perry and the actor's live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, between Sept. 30, 2023, and Oct. 12, 2023.

Iwamasa admitted in court documents to administering the ketamine on the day that Perry died, pleading guilty in August 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 14, 2026, and faces up to 15 years in prison.

Regarding the difference in sentencing for Plasencia and Chavez, Binninger said: "Mark, unlike Mr. Plasencia, accepted responsibility early and he cooperated with the government...we appreciate that the government and the court both were able to identify that they were major distinctions between Mark's role in this case and all the other co-defendants."

Chavez's attorneys said he had been an emergency room physician for 20 years and helped many people. This was his one huge mistake.

"What occurred in this case was a profound departure from the life that he had lived up to that point and the consequences have been severe and permanent," said defense attorney. Zach Brooks.

Two other defendants in the case -- Erik Fleming and Jasveen Sangha -- admitted to distributing the ketamine that killed Perry.

Prosecutors said Sangha worked with Fleming to distribute ketamine to Perry, and that in October 2023, they sold the actor 51 vials of ketamine, which were provided to Iwamasa.

Fleming pleaded guilty in August 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 7, 2026, and faces up to 25 years in prison.

Sangha, allegedly known as "The Ketamine Queen," pleaded guilty in September to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 25, 2026, and faces a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.

ABC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.