Matthew Perry’s doctor has agreed to plead guilty to supplying the Friends star with ketamine, before he suffered a fatal overdose.
The late actor – who publicly struggled with addiction up until his death – died aged 54 in October 2023 from the ‘acute effects of ketamine’ and drowning, an autopsy later revealed.
Five people have been charged in connection with his death including his live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, Jasveen Sangha aka ‘The Ketamine Queen’, Doctor Mark Chavez, street dealer Erik Fleming and Doctor Salvador Plasencia.
The Los Angeles doctor Salvador Plasencia will admit to four counts of ketamine distribution and is facing up to 40 years in prison for the offence, prosecutors have said.
According to court documents, Perry – best known for playing Chandler Bing on Friends – was taking ketamine 6 to 8 times a day in the time leading up to his death, which was provided to him by a ‘network of corrupt doctors,’ according to his ex-girlfriend and close friend.
The Friends actor had been open about his addiction struggles, but fans and colleagues around the world were shocked by his death.
Dr Plasencia is accused of supplying the bulk of Perry’s ketamine in his final weeks, with the doctor expected to make his plea in the coming weeks.
Dr Plasencia called Perry a ‘moron’ and wondered how much he’d be willing to pay for the drugs, according to text messages shared with prosecutors from Dr Mark Chavez, who has already pleaded guilty in the case.
Perry found Plasencia about a month before his death, after asking Dr Chavez to help obtain the drug for him, according to court filings in the Chavez case.
Dr Plasencia’s plea agreement states that, between 30 September 2023 and 12 October 2023, he sold twenty vials of ketamine, as well as ketamine lozenges and syringes to Perry and his assistant.
Jasmine Sangha, who prosecutors allege was a major ketamine dealer, is alleged to have provided the dose that killed the actor and is the only defendant who has pleaded not guilty in the case.
As laid out by DEA Administrator Anne Milgram: ‘Matthew Perry’s journey began with unscrupulous doctors who abused their position of trust because they saw him as a payday, to street dealers who gave him ketamine in unmarked vials.’
Perry struggled with addiction for years, dating back to his time on Friends, when he became one of the biggest stars of his generation as Chandler Bing.
He starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004 on the mega-hit sitcom on NBC.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
