Doctor accused of providing Matthew Perry with ketamine has agreed to plead guilty, Entertainment News
He could face a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a US$2 million (S$2.56 million) fine.
The Friends actor — who portrayed Chandler Bing in the US show — was found dead on Oct 28, 2023, aged 54, at his home in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles.
According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office autopsy report, Matthew Perry died due to "acute effects" of ketamine and subsequent drowning.
Dr Plasencia, 43, who filed a plea agreement on Monday (June 16), will be the fourth person to plead guilty in connection to the late actor's passing.
He was set to go on trial in August.
The US Attorney's office for the Central District of California said they expect the doctor to enter his plea in the coming weeks.
According to the plea agreement, Dr Plasencia claims he worked with Dr Mark Chavez — who pleaded guilty, in October, to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine — and sold "twenty 5ml vials of ketamine, less than a full package of ketamine lozenges, and syringes" to the actor's personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa between Sept 30, 2023, and Oct 12, 2023.
Chavez previously claimed in his plea agreement that he sold ketamine to Plasencia off-market for Matthew Perry to use.
Iwamasa pleaded guilty on Aug 7 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, causing death.
Chavez's sentencing is due to take place in September, and Iwamasa's in November.
In August, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) clarified to E! News that Plasencia and Chavez had given up their right to advise and authorise the use of a medicine or treatment.
Ahead of being arraigned, US Attorney Martin Estrada said about the duo at the time: "These defendants cared more about profiting off of Perry than caring for his well-being.
"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."
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