Matthew Perry ketamine doctor pleads guilty to distribution

Dr Salvador Plasencia one of Matthew Perry's ketamine providers pleaded guilty Wednesday to four counts of distribution of the dissociative drug Plasencia admitted to four counts of distribution of ketamine a plea deal he agreed to last month Standing before Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett in a Los Angeles federal court Plasencia announced his legal group had considered everything when it came to the plea and subsequent sentencing Prosecutors agreed to drop three additional counts against Plasencia in exchange for his guilty plea He had been scheduled to go on trial next month alongside Jasveen Sangha aka The Ketamine Queen MATTHEW PERRY PRACTITIONER AGREES TO PLEAD GUILTY ON FOUR COUNTS IN CONNECTION TO STAR'S DEATHThe Friends star died on Oct after an apparent drowning in the hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home officers verified to Fox News Digital at the time He was Dr Plasencia is profoundly remorseful for the healing decisions he made while providing ketamine to Matthew Perry his attorney Karen Goldstein reported in a declaration provided to Fox News Digital MATTHEW PERRY'S DOCTORS DISPLAYED DISDAIN' FOR HIS LIFE IT S SICKENING' He is fully accepting responsibility by pleading guilty to drug distribution Dr Plasencia intends to voluntarily surrender his curative license acknowledging his failure to protect Mr Perry a sufferer who was especially vulnerable due to addiction She added While Dr Plasencia was not treating Mr Perry at the time of his death he hopes his situation serves as a warning to other clinical professionals and leads to stricter oversight and clear protocols for the rapidly growing at-home ketamine industry in order to prevent future tragedies like this one Rither Alabre partner at Blank Rome's White Collar Defense Investigations Group and former prosecutor advised Fox News Digital that Plasencia's plea is central for the event and also sends a message The guilty plea by Dr Plasencia is key because he is the second healthcare provider to plead guilty in relation to Mr Perry s death and the plea sends a strong message to drug dealers as well as doctors and members of the health locality that prosecutors are paying close attention and will vigorously prosecute these types of cases Alabre noted Sentencing will be determined at a later date but his charges may set the stage for prospective civil suits according to entertainment and employment attorney Camron Dowlatshahi of MSD Lawyers LIKE WHAT YOU RE READING CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS Because the burden of proof is much higher in criminal cases versus civil cases beyond a reasonable doubt vs preponderance of evidence having a criminal conviction in the bag makes it much easier to win a civil scenario Dowlatshahi reported Fox News Digital Typically with a plea the defendant will get much less prison time than the maximum hence the agreement to plead guilty Here the maximum sentence is years in prison three years of supervised release and a fine of at least million I would expect significantly less in all aspects The punishment should be a warning to all physicians handling and distributing substances to do so with extreme care and humanity toward everyone including those who are extremely wealthy and famous Neama Rahmani president of West Coast Trial Lawyers noted that Plasencia abused his position for financial gain and caused a gross violation of trust The punishment does fit the crime because Plasencia did not provide the fatal dose of ketamine that killed Perry Rahmani commented Perry's family could file a civil lawsuit but they don't need the money and even though Plasencia provided the supplies and training that may not be enough to establish healthcare causation for a wrongful death development Co-defendants Sangha Fleming and Iwamasa are more directly liable for Perry's death Nearly nine months after Perry died government publicized that five people were arrested and charged with multiple counts in connection to his death CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTERU S Attorney for the Central District of California Martin Estrada commented at one point that the defendants distributed approximately vials for approximately in cash to Perry for Kenneth Kenny Iwamasa Perry's live-in assistant to distribute the drug to the actor During another sale the dealers took advantage of Mr Perry by selling approximately vials of ketamine for approximately in cash Plasencia a ketamine source was introduced to Perry by his assistant in September Plasencia who obtained ketamine from Dr Mark Chavez allegedly taught the assistant how to inject Perry with the drug Chavez previously ran a ketamine clinic and allegedly submitted a bogus prescription in the name of a former recipient to secure the drug Chavez agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine as part of his plea agreement The San Diego-based expert admitted to selling ketamine to Plasencia including ketamine that he had diverted from his former ketamine clinic Iwamasa pleaded guilty on Aug to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death and per Estrada has already filed a plea agreement Fleming pleaded guilty on Aug to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death Fleming admitted in court documents that he distributed the ketamine that killed Perry He also agreed to a plea deal While Plasencia is accused of supplying the bulk of Perry s ketamine in his final weeks defendant Sangha who prosecutors allege was a major ketamine dealer is alleged to have provided the dose that killed the actor In addition to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine Sangha is also charged with one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine one count of possession with intent to distribute ketamine and five counts of distribution of ketamine She is also scheduled to go to trial in August She has pleaded not guilty making her the only one of the five people charged in Perry s death who has not entered a plea agreement The Associated Press contributed to this account