LOS ANGELES (AP) — One in all two medical doctors charged within the investigation of the demise of Matthew Perry is anticipated to plead responsible Wednesday in a federal court docket in Los Angeles to conspiring to distribute the surgical anesthetic ketamine.

Dr. Mark Chavez, 54, of San Diego, signed a plea settlement with prosecutors in August and could be the third individual to plead responsible within the aftermath of the “Mates” star’s deadly overdose final yr.

Prosecutors provided lesser expenses to Chavez and two others in alternate for his or her cooperation as they go after two targets they deem extra answerable for the overdose demise: one other physician and an alleged supplier that they are saying was often called “ketamine queen” of Los Angeles.

Chavez is free on bond after turning over his passport and surrendering his medical license, amongst different circumstances.

His lawyer Matthew Binninger mentioned after Chavez’s first court docket look on Aug. 30 that he’s “extremely remorseful” and is “making an attempt to do every little thing in his energy to proper the flawed that occurred right here.”

Additionally working with federal prosecutors are Perry’s assistant, who admitted to serving to him acquire and inject ketamine, and a Perry acquaintance, who admitted to appearing as a drug messenger and intermediary.

The three are serving to prosecutors of their prosecution of Dr. Salvador Plasencia, charged with illegally promoting ketamine to Perry within the month earlier than his demise, and Jasveen Sangha, a girl who authorities say bought the actor the deadly dose of ketamine. Each have pleaded not responsible and are awaiting trial.

Chavez admitted in his plea settlement that he obtained ketamine from his former clinic and from a wholesale distributor the place he submitted a fraudulent prescription.

After a responsible plea, he might rise up to 10 years in jail when he’s sentenced.

Perry was discovered lifeless by his assistant on Oct. 28. The health worker dominated ketamine was the first reason for demise. The actor had been utilizing the drug via his common physician in a authorized however off-label therapy for melancholy that has turn into more and more widespread.

Perry started looking for extra ketamine than his physician would give him. A few month earlier than the actor’s demise, he discovered Plasencia, who in flip requested Chavez to acquire the drug for him.

“I ponder how a lot this moron can pay,” Plasencia texted Chavez. The 2 met up the identical day in Costa Mesa, midway between Los Angeles and San Diego, and exchanged no less than 4 vials of ketamine.

After promoting the medication to Perry for $4,500, Plasencia requested Chavez if he might maintain supplying them so they might turn into Perry’s “go-to.”

Perry struggled with habit for years, courting again to his time on “Mates,” when he grew to become one of many largest stars of his technology 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 sitcom.