Doctor accused of supplying Matthew Perry ketamine agrees to plead guilty amid shocking legal unravelling

In a major development in the investigation into Friends star Matthew Perry¡¯s overdose, a California doctor accused of supplying the actor with ketamine has agreed to plead guilty, federal prosecutors confirmed on Monday.

Doctor in Matthew Perry ketamine case to plead guilty | Credit: Instagram

The doctor is set to admit guilt

Dr Salvador Plasencia is set to admit guilt on four counts of ketamine distribution, charges that carry a maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison. The plea agreement is expected to be formally entered in the coming weeks, potentially marking a pivotal moment in the tragic saga that has gripped both Hollywood and the medical world.

Mathew Perry¡¯s death

Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing, was found unresponsive by his assistant on 28 October 2023. The medical examiner later confirmed that ketamine toxicity was the primary cause of his death. Although Perry had been undergoing legal off-label ketamine treatment for depression under the supervision of another physician, court documents reveal he was actively seeking additional sources of the drug in the month prior to his death.

Doctor in Matthew Perry ketamine case to plead guilty | Credit: Instagram

Matthew Perry¡¯s dosage of ketamine

Prosecutors allege that Perry turned to Dr Plasencia after his regular doctor limited his dosage. Plasencia, in turn, approached another doctor, Mark Chavez, to help obtain more of the drug. Court filings state that Plasencia had messaged Chavez with derision, allegedly mocking how much Perry was willing to pay. According to the documents, the two met in Costa Mesa, California, to exchange several vials of the substance.

Plasencia later sold the ketamine to Perry for $4,500 and asked Chavez if he could continue the supply arrangement, with the intention of becoming the actor¡¯s primary source. Authorities believe Plasencia provided the bulk of Perry¡¯s ketamine doses in his final weeks.

Doctor in Matthew Perry ketamine case to plead guilty | Credit: Instagram

Doctor¡¯s trial is scheduled for August

Although Plasencia¡¯s trial had been scheduled for August, this plea deal appears to be part of a broader effort by prosecutors, who have secured cooperation from three of the five individuals charged in connection with Perry¡¯s death. The only remaining defendant yet to accept a plea deal is Jasmine Sangha, accused of delivering the fatal dose. She has pleaded not guilty and is also set to go on trial in August.

Doctor in Matthew Perry ketamine case to plead guilty | Credit: Instagram

Perry¡¯s long battle with addiction was no secret. Despite his immense success on Friends, he openly struggled with substance abuse, making the circumstances of his death both tragic and heartbreakingly familiar to those who followed his journey.