(NewsNation) — Dr. Mark Chavez, one of the two doctors charged in connection with the 2023 accidental death of “Friends” actor Matthew Perry, pled guilty in a Los Angeles federal courtroom Wednesday to conspiring to distribute the surgical anesthetic ketamine.

Chavez, 54, of San Diego, is the third person to plead guilty in the aftermath of Perry’s fatal overdose last year. He signed a plea agreement with prosecutors in August and faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced.

Prosecutors offered lesser charges to Chavez and two others in exchange for their cooperation as they go after two targets they deem more responsible for the overdose death: another doctor and an alleged dealer that they say was known as the “ketamine queen” of Los Angeles.

Chavez is free on bond after turning over his passport and surrendering his medical license, among other conditions. He will remain on bond until his sentencing hearing April 2.

His lawyer, Matthew Binninger, said after Chavez’s first court appearance on Aug. 30 that he is “incredibly remorseful” and is “trying to do everything in his power to right the wrong that happened here.”

Also working with federal prosecutors are Perry’s assistant, who admitted to helping him obtain and inject ketamine, and a Perry acquaintance, who admitted to acting as a drug messenger and middleman.

The three are helping prosecutors in their prosecution of Dr. Salvador Plasencia, charged with illegally selling ketamine to Perry in the month before his death, and Jasveen Sangha, a woman who authorities say sold the actor the lethal dose of ketamine. Both have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.

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

Matthew Perry’s death

Perry, 54, was found face down in his hot tub on Oct. 28, 2023.

An autopsy blamed his death on an overdose of ketamine. According to the findings, the overdose caused Perry to lose consciousness and drown.

The medical examiner said the amount of ketamine in Perry’s system was equivalent to the amount used as anesthesia in general surgery. His death was ruled an accident.

Perry had been undergoing supervised treatment with ketamine for his depression.

The “Friends” actor had at least 27 shots of ketamine in the three days leading up to his overdose. On the day of his passing, Perry’s personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa gave Perry three injections of the drug.

After the final injection, Iwamasa left to run errands and returned hours later to find Perry face down in the jacuzzi. He pulled Perry up and called 911. Paramedics arrived minutes later and declared Perry dead.

What is ketamine?

Ketamine is a powerful anesthetic manufactured commercially as a powder or liquid. It’s a chemical cousin of the illegal drug PCP, and it can potentially cause hallucinations and can impact both breathing and the heart.

Most ketamine illegally distributed in the United States is stolen or diverted from legitimate sources, like veterinary clinics. Distribution often occurs among friends.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.