In a bizarre twist that even Chandler Bing would struggle to quip about, one of the doctors tangled up in the investigation surrounding Matthew Perry’s untimely death has struck a plea deal. And guys, this is the kind of plot that’s way too wild even for a Friends reunion special.
ICYMI, Matthew Perry—the beloved Chandler Bing, king of sarcastic comebacks and awkwardly charming dance moves—sadly passed away at 54 in October 2023. The cause? Not a Central Perk overdose, but the “acute effects of ketamine.” (Yes, that ketamine—the party drug turned veterinary anesthesia turned… what was Chandler even doing?).
Fast forward to this month, and suddenly, we’ve got an all-star cast of arrests: doctors, personal assistants, and pals. Forget Friends—this is more like Law & Order: Prescription Drug Unit.
Now, let’s dive into the juiciest plot twist: Dr. Mark Chavez, the man of the hour, took a deal on Friday (August 30). He’s not exactly winning any Best Actor Emmys for this performance. Instead, he’s pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Yep, the same stuff that landed Chandler in hot water. Dr. Chavez could now be looking at a 10-year stretch—because apparently, his second job was Breaking Bad’s understudy.
The doctor admitted to obtaining the ketamine from his former clinic and a shady wholesale distributor, using what can only be described as a fraudulent prescription—because who needs morals when you have a prescription pad, am I right?
But wait, there’s more! It’s not just Dr. Chavez taking center stage in this real-life drama. Matthew’s personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa and his pal Eric Fleming also decided to get in on the action by pleading guilty, too. They’ve teamed up with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to put the heat on two other co-stars: Jasveen Sangha and Dr. Salvador Plasencia—allegedly masterminds behind the ketamine smuggling ring. It’s basically Ocean’s Eleven if it was less George Clooney and more “please don’t search my medical bag.”
All three of our guilty amigos are now working together to bring down the rest of the ketamine crew. Honestly, I’m waiting for Netflix to option this for a crime docuseries—Breaking Bing: The Untold Story.
In all seriousness, though, while this might read like a dark sitcom script, our hearts still go out to Matthew Perry’s friends, family, and loved ones. Because no matter how surreal this story gets, losing a TV icon like Perry is no laughing matter.
