Doctor who sold ketamine to Matthew Perry sentenced to prison

Dr. Salvador Plasencia was sentenced to prison for selling ketamine to Matthew Perry

An emotional federal court hearing in Los Angeles on Wednesday brought Matthew Perry’s family face-to-face with Dr. Salvador Plasencia, the doctor who pleaded guilty to selling ketamine to the late Friends star.

Perry’s sister and mother delivered tearful statements about the actor’s struggles with addiction and the devastating impact of his 2023 overdose death.

Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett sentenced Plasencia, 44, to 2½ years in prison, along with two years of probation and a $5,600 fine.

The judge stressed that while Plasencia did not provide the ketamine that directly caused Perry’s death, he “helped Mr. Perry on the road to such an ending by continuing to feed his ketamine addiction” and “exploited Mr. Perry’s addiction for your own profit.”

Perry’s sister Madeline Morrison said, “My brother’s death turned my world upside down… Celebrities are not plastic dolls that you can take advantage of. They’re people. They’re human beings with families.” His mother, Suzanne Perry, added, “You called him a ‘moron.’ There is nothing moronic about that man. He was even a successful drug addict.”

Plasencia apologized to the family, breaking into tears as he reflected on the impact of his actions. “I should have protected him… It hurts me so much. I can’t believe I’m here,” he said.

Court documents reveal that Perry had been legally using ketamine for depression but turned to Plasencia when his regular doctor would not provide the doses he wanted.

Text messages presented in court showed Plasencia referring to Perry as a “moron” and acknowledging he could be exploited for money.

Prosecutors described him as “a drug dealer in a white coat,” while the defense argued he was a doctor who misjudged the situation. The judge rejected this defense, stating that Plasencia actively offered to sell ketamine to Perry.

Plasencia is the first of five defendants who have pleaded guilty in connection with Perry’s death. Sentencing for the remaining four defendants will occur in the coming months, with the judge aiming for consistency across cases.

Perry, who rose to fame as Chandler Bing on Friends, had struggled with addiction for decades despite his professional success. His death at 54 renewed attention on prescription drug abuse and the legal responsibility of those who supply addictive substances to vulnerable patients.

Outside the courthouse, Plasencia’s mother, Luz Plasencia, expressed sorrow, telling reporters, “I’m sorry to the family of Matthew Perry… I know his heart.”

The case underscores ongoing questions about medical ethics, the responsibilities of healthcare providers, and the dangers of enabling addiction.