Doctor Pleads Guilty in Matthew Perry Ketamine Case
Dr. Salvador Plasencia pleaded guilty Wednesday to four counts of distributing ketamine to Matthew Perry in the weeks before the “Friends” star’s fatal overdose. The Santa Monica physician faces up to 40 years in federal prison for his role in supplying the drug that contributed to Perry’s death in October 2023.
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| Key Takeaways |
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| Dr. Salvador Plasencia pleaded guilty to four counts of ketamine distribution |
| Maximum sentence: 40 years in prison plus fines exceeding $1 million |
| Called Perry a “moron” in text messages, exploiting his addiction for profit |
| Distributed 20 vials of ketamine to Perry and his assistant over two weeks |
| Trial was set for August but plea deal eliminates need for proceedings |
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Criminal Network Behind Perry’s Death
Five individuals face charges in connection with Perry’s death, including two doctors, a dealer dubbed the “Ketamine Queen,” Perry’s assistant, and a middleman. The network allegedly exploited Perry’s addiction for financial gain during his final month.
Text messages reveal Plasencia’s callous attitude toward Perry. “I wonder how much this moron will pay,” he wrote to Dr. Mark Chavez, his co-conspirator. Perry paid approximately $55,000 for six to eight ketamine shots daily during the month before his death.
Medical License Surrender and Professional Misconduct
Plasencia intends to voluntarily surrender his medical license, acknowledging his failure to protect Perry, whom his attorney described as “especially vulnerable due to addiction”. The plea agreement states his conduct fell below proper medical standards and lacked legitimate medical purpose.
The doctor administered ketamine to Perry at his home on multiple occasions and taught Perry’s assistant Kenneth Iwamasa injection techniques. In one instance, he received $12,000 for a house call. Court documents reveal he once administered ketamine to Perry in a parking lot near a Long Beach aquarium.
Remaining Trial and Co-conspirators
Jasveen Sangha, known as the “Ketamine Queen,” remains the only defendant who has not entered a plea agreement. Prosecutors allege she supplied the fatal dose that killed Perry. Her trial is scheduled for August.
Three other defendants have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Dr. Mark Chavez will be sentenced in September, while Kenneth Iwamasa and Erik Fleming face sentencing in November. Fleming admitted to acting as a middleman who distributed 50 vials of ketamine obtained from Sangha.
The case highlights the vulnerability of celebrities struggling with addiction and the professionals who exploit their conditions for profit. Perry’s death serves as a stark reminder of ketamine’s dangers when distributed outside legitimate medical supervision.
