California doctor Salvador Plasencia is set to plead guilty to supplying Friends actor Matthew Perry with ketamine in the weeks leading up to the star's overdose death, federal prosecutors have announced. The doctor will admit to four counts of distributing the powerful anesthetic, with the charges carrying a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

According to a plea deal filed in court, Plasencia injected Perry with ketamine both at his home and in the parking lot of the Long Beach Aquarium. He also trained Perry's assistant — who is a co-defendant — to administer the drug and sold them extra vials for private use.

The actor, known globally for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, was found dead in his Los Angeles hot tub in October 2023 at the age of 54.

While Perry had openly shared his struggles with addiction and depression, his death sent shockwaves through fans around the world.

Prosecutors say Plasencia was part of a wider underground ring involving five individuals — including medical professionals and dealers — who supplied Perry with the drug beyond legal prescriptions. While Perry was receiving ketamine for depression through approved channels, he allegedly sought more than what had been prescribed.

Text messages included in court filings show that Plasencia called Perry a "moron" in a message to another doctor, Mark Chavez, who has already pleaded guilty in the case, and questioned how much the actor would be willing to pay for the drug.

Between 30 September and 12 October 2023, prosecutors say Plasencia sold Perry and his assistant twenty 5ml vials of ketamine, part of a lozenge package, and syringes.

Plasencia is expected to enter his guilty plea in the coming weeks. His lawyers have not yet responded to requests for comment.