Doctor pleads guilty to supplying Matthew Perry with ketamine

Dr. Salvador Plasencia pleads guilty to illegally supplying Perry with ketamine weeks before the fatal overdose.

Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a California physician accused of illegally supplying actor Matthew Perry with ketamine in the weeks leading up to his death, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to four federal counts of drug distribution, according to court documents.

Plasencia, 43, appeared in federal court in Los Angeles, where he admitted to distributing ketamine without a legitimate medical purpose. He was originally facing seven charges, but prosecutors agreed to drop three counts and two counts of falsifying records as part of a plea deal.

Although prosecutors clarified that Plasencia did not supply the lethal dose that killed Perry, he admitted to providing the actor with multiple doses of ketamine, including 20 vials, syringes, and lozenges. The “Friends” star, who had long battled addiction, was undergoing off-label ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety but began seeking the drug outside legal channels, officials said.

Perry died on October 28, 2023, at his Pacific Palisades home. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled his death an accident caused by the acute effects of ketamine. Plasencia’s sentencing is scheduled for December 3, and he faces up to 40 years in prison, though a lighter sentence is expected. He remains free on bond.

According to court filings, Plasencia mocked Perry in private text messages with another doctor, Mark Chavez, who also pleaded guilty. In one exchange, Plasencia referred to Perry as a “moron” and speculated how much money he could charge the actor for ketamine. He also admitted to enlisting Chavez to help fulfill Perry’s requests.

Perry’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, was among five individuals charged in the case and also pleaded guilty. Iwamasa told authorities he was taught how to inject Perry with the drug despite lacking medical training. Perry reportedly paid as much as $55,000 for ketamine in the month before his death.

Plasencia’s attorney said the doctor is “profoundly remorseful” and will surrender his medical license voluntarily.