A California-based doctor has agreed to plead guilty to supplying ketamine to Friends actor Matthew Perry in the weeks leading up to his death, U.S. federal prosecutors have confirmed.
Dr Salvador Plasencia will admit to four felony counts of distributing the powerful anaesthetic, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
He is expected to formally enter the plea in court in the coming weeks.
Perry, who played Chandler Bing in hit US sitcom Friends, died aged 54 from the “acute effects” of drugs on October 28, 2023 after falling back into addiction.
He was found unresponsive in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home.
While the actor had spoken candidly about his long-standing battles with addiction and depression, his sudden death sent shockwaves through Hollywood and among fans worldwide.
According to details contained in the plea agreement, Dr Plasencia administered ketamine injections to Perry at his home and, on at least one occasion, in the parking lot of the Long Beach Aquarium.
He is also accused of training Perry’s assistant, who has also been charged, on how to inject the drug, and of supplying them with additional vials for use at home.
The physician is one of five individuals charged in connection with what prosecutors describe as an illicit network of dealers and medical professionals who fuelled Perry’s access to the drug outside legal prescriptions.
While Perry was undergoing legal ketamine treatment for depression at the time, investigators allege he sought higher quantities than had been prescribed.
Prosecutors say that between September 30 and October 12 2023, Dr Plasencia supplied the actor and his assistant with 20 vials of liquid ketamine, a small quantity of ketamine lozenges, and syringes.
Text messages revealed in the case include an exchange between Dr Plasencia and Dr Mark Chavez, another physician who has already pleaded guilty.
In the messages, Dr Plasencia reportedly referred to Perry as a “moron” and speculated about how much the actor would pay for the drug.
Perry shot to fame in the hit 90s sitcom Friends opposite Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow.
