Doctor Pleads Guilty in Connection to Matthew Perry’s Death

Dr. Salvador Plasencia has confessed to distributing ketamine to actor Matthew Perry prior to his tragic overdose. He appeared in a federal court and pled guilty to four charges of drug distribution, as part of a plea deal arranged with prosecutors.

The court granted him bond while awaiting sentencing, scheduled for December 3. Under the plea agreement, he faces a maximum of 40 years in prison, along with a three-year supervised release and a fine of at least $2 million.

In a statement, Plasencia’s attorneys indicated that he has agreed to surrender his medical license, acknowledging his failure to protect Perry, who was particularly vulnerable due to addiction issues. The legal team expressed remorse, stating he is “profoundly remorseful for the treatment decisions” made during Perry’s treatment.

Prosecutors previously alleged that Plasencia taught Perry’s assistant how to administer ketamine, providing him with liquid doses and lozenges beginning in late September 2023. They also accused him of conspiring with another doctor to supply multiple doses and profit from the actor’s drug use. Dr. Mark Chavez, involved in the scheme, pled guilty last October, accepting lesser charges in exchange for cooperation. Additionally, drug dealer Jasveen Sangha, dubbed “ketamine queen,” reportedly sold Perry the lethal dose.

Perry died from a fatal overdose in 2023 at his home in Los Angeles. The Medical Examiner determined his death was accidental, caused by the acute effects of ketamine. Perry had previously spoken about using ketamine to manage depression, but in the month before his death, it was reported he was abusing the drug.