Doctor Pleads Guilty in Matthew Perry Ketamine Case, Faces 40 Years in Prison

A Los Angeles physician became the fourth person to plead guilty in the federal investigation surrounding beloved "Friends" star Matthew Perry's tragic overdose death last year.

Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 43, admitted to four felony counts of ketamine distribution during a court appearance Wednesday before US District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett. The plea agreement spares him from a trial that was originally scheduled for August, though he still faces a potential maximum sentence of 40 years behind bars.

Federal prosecutors revealed that Plasencia served as one of Perry's primary ketamine suppliers in the month leading up to the actor's death on October 28, 2023. Perry was discovered dead in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home, with the medical examiner later ruling ketamine as the primary cause of death.

Court documents paint a disturbing picture of Plasencia's conduct. After administering one injection that caused Perry's blood pressure to spike and his body to freeze up, the doctor allegedly left additional ketamine doses for the actor's assistant to administer—despite knowing Perry was battling addiction.

Text messages between Plasencia and another doctor involved in the case revealed a callous attitude toward their famous patient. "I wonder how much this moron will pay," Plasencia reportedly wrote, referring to Perry as someone who could be exploited for money.

According to the plea agreement, Plasencia illegally supplied Perry with 20 vials of ketamine totalling 100 mg of the drug, along with ketamine lozenges and syringes. He charged the Emmy-nominated actor $4,500 for these treatments and allegedly sought to become Perry's "go-to" supplier.

Plasencia's attorney, Debra White, acknowledged her client's failures in an email statement: "Dr. Plasencia is profoundly remorseful for the treatment decisions he made while providing ketamine to Matthew Perry. He acknowledges his failure to protect Mr. Perry, a patient who was especially vulnerable due to addiction."

The doctor has agreed to voluntarily surrender his medical license and has already given up his DEA license to prescribe controlled substances.

While prosecutors confirmed that Plasencia did not provide the lethal dose that ultimately killed Perry, his guilty plea represents a significant development in the high-profile case. Perry's assistant, a friend, and another doctor have already pleaded guilty in exchange for their cooperation with federal investigators.

Only one defendant remains: Jasveen Sangha, dubbed the "Ketamine Queen" by prosecutors, who allegedly supplied the fatal dose. She has pleaded not guilty, and her trial is scheduled to begin next month.

Perry, who struggled with addiction throughout his career, had been using ketamine legally through his regular physician as an off-label treatment for depression. However, he began seeking additional amounts beyond what his doctor would prescribe, leading him into the network of illegal suppliers that ultimately contributed to his death.

Plasencia's sentencing is scheduled for December 3, where he will learn his fate for exploiting one of television's most beloved stars during his most vulnerable moments.