U.S. federal prosecutors verified on Monday that Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a California doctor, has agreed to plead guilty to four counts of unlawfully dispensing ketamine, including to actor Matthew Perry in the weeks leading up to his October 2023 overdose death.
The plea agreement offers a potential maximum punishment of 40 years in jail. In a few weeks, Plasencia is expected to formally enter the plea in court.
Beloved Friends actor Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing, was discovered dead at his Los Angeles home at the age of 54. Despite his well-documented struggles with addiction and mental health, his death stunned supporters all around.
Prosecutors said Plasencia gave the strong anesthetic ketamine outside of approved medical use. Among several doctors under inquiry, he is one. Dr. Mark Chavez, another doctor already convicted in the case, reportedly shared text messages with prosecutors in earlier court documents in which Plasencia mocked Perry, calling him a “moron” and discussed how much money the actor might be prepared to pay for drugs.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office stressed the case shows grave issues over medical practitioners abusing their power by providing regulated drugs for nonmedical purposes. The inquiry is still going.
