A California medical practitioner is set to plead guilty regarding the controversial distribution of ketamine to the late Friends actor Matthew Perry. Dr. Salvador Plasencia, as announced by federal prosecutors, is facing four counts related to the unauthorized distribution of this controlled substance. His plea carries the potential for a hefty prison sentence of up to 40 years, and he is expected to formally enter this plea in the coming days.
Matthew Perry, who achieved stardom playing Chandler Bing on the iconic sitcom, was found deceased in his hot tub in Los Angeles in October 2023 at the age of 54. His passing left fans globally in shock, particularly as the actor had frequently discussed his battles with depression and addiction.
Court documents indicate that text exchanges with Dr. Mark Chavez—another physician who has already accepted guilt in this matter—revealed Dr. Plasencia’s disparaging remarks about Perry, calling him a "moron" and inquiring about how much the actor would pay for ketamine. Notably, the plea agreement outlines that Dr. Plasencia administered ketamine injections to Perry both at the actor’s residence and even in a parking lot near the Long Beach Aquarium.
Furthermore, it is alleged that Dr. Plasencia assisted Perry's assistant—a co-defendant in this case—in learning how to administer the drug and was involved in the sale of additional vials for their private use. This makes him part of a larger group that authorities claim constituted an underground network supplying ketamine to Perry, who was known to be consuming legal prescriptions for his mental health issues but sought additional quantities.
From September 30 to October 12, 2023, the plea documents specify that Dr. Plasencia distributed twenty 5ml vials of ketamine, highlighting the gravity of his actions leading up to Perry's unfortunate overdose. Attempts to reach Dr. Plasencia's legal representatives for comments have been unsuccessful thus far.
