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One of the doctors charged in connection with the death of Friends star Matthew Perry has appeared in a federal court.

Mark Chavez, 54, did not enter a plea in Los Angeles, but earlier this month signed an agreement with prosecutors to plead guilty to conspiring to distribute ketamine.

Perry, 54, was found dead at his home in LA on 28 October last year.

The US-born actor had been taking ketamine six to eight times a day before he died, according to court documents.

Five people have been charged in connection with his death.

This includes his live-in personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa and a doctor named Salvador Plasencia, also known as “Dr P”.

The others charged are Jasveen Sangha who was referred to in documents as the “Ketamine Queen“, and Eric Fleming, who it was claimed bought the drug from Sangha.

Actor Matthew Perry
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Matthew Perry had been taking ketamine six to eight times a day before he died, court documents showed

Chavez agreed to cooperate with prosecutors to pursue others, including Plasencia, who he allegedly worked with to sell ketamine to the actor.

Judge Jean P Rosenbluth ruled Chavez could be released on bail, but was required to hand over his passport and cease working as a doctor.

Dr. Mark Chavez, a physician from San Diego, who is charged in connection with actor Matthew Perry's death from an accidental ketamine overdose, arrives at the Roybal Federal Courthouse in Los Angeles, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
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Chavez has agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to distribute ketamine. Pic: AP

Speaking outside court, Chavez’s lawyer Matthew Binninger said: “He’s incredibly remorseful.

“He’s doing everything in his power to cooperate and help with this situation.”

Also working with the US attorney’s office are Perry’s assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, and Eric Fleming – who both pleaded guilty to various charges.

The three are helping authorities as they prosecute their main targets, Plasencia and Sangha.

Clockwise from top left: Friends stars Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox. Pic: NBC Universal Inc/ Sky UK
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Clockwise from top left: Friends stars Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox. Pic: NBC Universal Inc/ Sky UK

After a guilty plea, Chavez could get up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced.

Meanwhile, Plasencia pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.

Sangha, a dual US and UK citizen, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine, maintaining a drug-involved premises, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute ketamine, and five counts of distribution of ketamine.

Read more:
Matthew Perry’s last hours before drug overdose
‘Took advantage of Perry’s addiction issues’

He and Sangha are scheduled to return to court next week.

They have separate trial dates set for October, but prosecutors are seeking a single trial that likely would be delayed to next year.

Salvador Plasencia. Pic: Malibu Canyon Urgent Care
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Salvador Plasencia. Pic: Malibu Canyon Urgent Care

Kenneth Iwamasa Pic: LinkedIn
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Kenneth Iwamasa Pic: LinkedIn

Jasveen Sangha
Pic: BFA.com/Shutterstock
Image:
Jasveen Sangha. Pic: BFA.com/Shutterstock

When Perry died, the levels of ketamine in his body were equivalent to the amount used for general anaesthesia during surgery, according to Sky News’ US partner NBC News.

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Outside Jasveen Sangha’s ‘drug-selling emporium’

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Prosecutors allege Chavez funnelled ketamine to Plasencia, securing some of the drug from a wholesale distributor through a fraudulent prescription.

In one instance, prosecutors allege that Plasencia “charged Perry $2,000 (£1,500) a vial that cost Dr Chavez approximately $12 (£9)”.

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Donald Trump threatens sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on first day in office

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Donald Trump threatens sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on first day in office

Donald Trump has threatened sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on his first day in office.

The president-elect, who takes office on 20 January next year, said he would introduce a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico.

Posting on his Truth Social platform he also threatened an additional 10% tariff on goods from China on top of any additional tariffs he might impose as one of his first executive orders.

What Trump’s tariffs could mean for UK, EU, China and the world

If implemented, the tariffs could raise prices for ordinary American consumers on everything from petrol to cars and agricultural products.

The US is the largest importer of goods worldwide and Mexico, China and Canada are its top three suppliers according to the country’s own census data.

More than 83% of exports from Mexico went to the US in 2023 and 75% of Canadian exports go to the country.

More on Donald Trump

“On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” Mr Trump said.

He also spoke against an influx of illegal immigrants heading into the country.

While migrant arrests reached a record high during President Joe Biden’s administration, illegal crossings fell dramatically this year as new border restrictions were introduced and Mexico stepped up enforcement.

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Mr Trump added: “Both Mexico and Canada have the absolute right and power to easily solve this long simmering problem. We hereby demand that they use this power… and until such time that they do, it is time for them to pay a very big price!”

After issuing his tariff threat, Mr Trump spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and they were said to have discussed trade and border security.

“It was a good discussion and they will stay in touch,” a Canadian source said.

Turning to China, the president-elect said he “had many talks with China about the massive amounts of drugs, in particular Fentanyl, being sent into the United States – But to no avail.”

“Until such time as they stop, we will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America,” he wrote.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington said that there would be losers on all sides if there is a trade war.

“China-US economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature,” embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu posted on X. “No one will win a trade war or a tariff war.”

It isn’t clear if Mr Trump will actually go through with the threats.

He won the recent election in part due to voter frustration over inflation and high prices.

Mr Trump’s nominee for treasury secretary Scott Bessent – who if confirmed, would be one of a number of officials responsible for tariffs – has said previously that tariffs are a means of negotiation.

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Ryan Kobayashi: Dad of woman who vanished takes his own life after flying to LA to find her

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Ryan Kobayashi: Dad of woman who vanished takes his own life after flying to LA to find her

The dad of a missing Hawaiian woman who vanished took his own life after he flew to LA to try to find her.

Ryan Kobayashi had travelled from Hawaii to LA, retracing the steps his daughter Hannah Kobayashi took earlier this month before she went missing.

On 8 November, the 31-year-old Ms Kobayashi travelled from Hawaii to LA, on her way to New York, but missed her connecting flight.

Hannah Kobayashi. Pic: Instagram/Hannah Kobayashi
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Hannah Kobayashi. Pic: Instagram/Hannah Kobayashi

Hannah Kobayashi. Pic: Missing Persons of America
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The 30-year-old budding photographer. Pic: Missing Persons of America

Her family initially thought she would catch another one but she told them she had begun to explore the area.

Then, on 11 November, the family began receiving “strange and cryptic, just alarming” text messages from her phone.

They referenced her being “intercepted” as she got on a train and being scared someone was trying to steal her identity.

“Once the family started pressing, she went dark,” her aunt Larie Pidgeon said.

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Sky News US partner network NBC News reported that one of the texts received by Ms Kobayashi’s family read: “I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds for someone I thought I loved.”

Mr Kobayashi flew out to LA to try and find her, searching with other family members and volunteers.

However, he was found dead on Sunday in a car park near the LA International Airport having taken his own life, police and his family said.

In a statement, the family said: “After tirelessly searching throughout Los Angeles for 13 days, Hannah’s father, Ryan Kobayashi, tragically took his own life.

“This loss has compounded the family’s suffering immeasurably.”

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They asked for privacy as they grieved and requested the public “maintain focus on the search for her. Hannah IS still actively missing and is believed to be in imminent danger. It is crucial for everyone to remain vigilant in their efforts to locate Hannah.”

Ms Kobayashi is a budding photographer from Maui and had been heading to New York for a new job and to visit relatives.

The RAD Movement, a network aimed at helping missing and exploited people, said in an appeal that in footage, Ms Kobayashi “does not appear to be in good condition and she is not alone”.

Ms Pidgeon added that the search effort has been focused in the downtown area of LA.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.

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Prosecutors file to drop 2020 presidential election interference charges against Trump

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Prosecutors file to drop 2020 presidential election interference charges against Trump

A motion has been filed to drop the charges against Donald Trump of plotting to overturn the 2020 US presidential election result.

Mr Trump was first indicted on four felonies in August 2023: Conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and an attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights.

The president-elect pleaded not guilty to all charges and the case was then put on hold for months as Mr Trump’s team argued he could not be prosecuted.

U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith looks on as he makes a statement to reporters after a grand jury returned an indictment of former U.S. President Donald Trump in the special counsel's investigation of efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat, at Smith's offices in Washington, U.S. August 1, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Wurm TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
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Special Counsel Jack Smith. Pic: Reuters

Donald Trump supporters storm the US Capitol
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Donald Trump supporters storm the US Capitol

On Monday, prosecutors working with special counsel Jack Smith, who had led the investigation, asked a federal judge to dismiss the case over long-standing US justice department policy, dating back to the 1970s, that presidents cannot be prosecuted while in office.

It marks the end of the department’s landmark effort to hold Mr Trump accountable for the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January 2021 when thousands of Trump supporters assaulted police, broke through barricades, and swarmed the Capitol in a bid to prevent the US Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.

Mr Smith’s team had been assessing how to wind down both the election interference case and the separate classified documents case in the wake of Mr Trump’s election victory over vice president Kamala Harris earlier this month, effectively killing any chance of success for the case.

In court papers, prosecutors said “the [US] Constitution requires that this case be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated”.

They said the ban [on prosecuting sitting presidents] “is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the government stands fully behind”.

Mr Trump, who has said he would sack Mr Smith as soon as he takes office in January, and promised to pardon some convicted rioters, has long dismissed both the 2020 election interference case and the separate classified documents case as politically motivated.

Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington
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Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier at the Capitol in Washington. Pic: AP

He was accused of illegally keeping classified papers after leaving office in 2021, some of which were allegedly found in his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida.

The election interference case stalled after the US Supreme Court ruled in July that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution, which Mr Trump’s lawyers exploited to demand the charges against him be dismissed.

Mr Smith’s request to drop the case still needs to be approved by US District Judge Tanya Chutkan.

No date had been set for a trial.

Read more:
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Prosecutors to focus on ‘worst rioters’
Hollywood star jailed over Capitol riot

At least 1,500 cases have been brought against those accused of trying to overthrow the election result on 6 January 2021, resulting in more than 1,100 convictions, the Associated Press said.

More than 950 defendants have been sentenced and 600 of them jailed for terms ranging from a few days to 22 years.

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