The case surrounding the death of Friends star Matthew Perry has taken a new turn, as Dr. Salvador Plascencia, accused of illegally supplying Perry with a prohibited substance a month before his death, has agreed to plead guilty.

According to a statement from federal prosecutors, Plascencia agreed to plead guilty to four counts related to the distribution of the banned substance, in exchange for the dismissal of three similar charges and two counts of falsifying medical records. The plea deal was submitted to the court on Monday, June 16. Prosecutors said the doctor could face up to 40 years in prison, with formal proceedings expected in the coming weeks.

Investigations revealed that Plascencia illegally supplied Perry with 20 vials of ketamine (totaling 100 mg) about a month before his death.

Five Defendants in the Case… One Woman Awaits Trial

Dr. Plascencia is one of the main suspects in the case, along with Jasvyn Sanga, a woman accused of trafficking the controlled substance, who allegedly provided Perry with the fatal dose. Sanga is the only one among the five accused who has not entered a guilty plea, instead maintaining her innocence and awaiting trial.

The three other defendants, including another doctor, struck plea deals last year in exchange for their cooperation with authorities. One of them claimed that Plascencia described Perry in a text message as a “fool” who could be exploited for money.

Ketamine: The Direct Cause of Death

On October 28, 2023, Matthew Perry was found dead at his home by his personal assistant. According to the coroner’s report, the primary cause of death was an overdose of the banned substance—commonly used as an anesthetic in surgical procedures but also employed in modern psychiatric treatments.

While Perry had been undergoing legally supervised ketamine therapy, reports suggest he began seeking out additional quantities beyond what was prescribed—an act believed to have led to his fatal overdose.