Guilty Plea in Matthew Perry’s Drug Case

A doctor has pleaded guilty to providing ketamine to actor Matthew Perry shortly before his tragic overdose death. Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 43, admitted in federal court to four counts of drug distribution. He had been scheduled for trial but agreed to plead guilty last month, with prosecutors dropping three additional charges.

Prosecutors and co-defendants, who cooperated with authorities, allege that Plasencia illegally supplied Perry with large quantities of ketamine starting about a month prior to his death on October 28, 2023. Evidence includes text messages where Plasencia called Perry a “moron” and discussed exploiting the actor for money. Perry’s personal assistant, a friend, and another doctor also pleaded guilty last year in exchange for cooperation; their sentences are pending.

In court, Perry was referred to only as “victim MP.” Plasencia’s plea states that he supplied Perry with 20 vials of ketamine, along with lozenges and syringes, totaling 100 mg. He also enlisted another doctor, Mark Chavez, to provide the drug and reportedly expressed interest in continuing supplies to Perry for a fee of $4,500 per sale.

Court documents reveal that Perry was seeking more ketamine than his legal doctor prescribed, as he had been using the drug for depression off-label—a common practice. The medical examiner concluded that ketamine was the primary cause of Perry’s death.

Perry’s death was discovered by his assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. He had previously faced years of addiction struggles, becoming famous as Chandler Bing on “Friends” from 1994 to 2004. Perry’s substance abuse issues and his reliance on ketamine are well-documented.

The remaining defendant, Jasveen Sangha—known as the “Ketamine Queen”—is scheduled for trial next month. She has pleaded not guilty and is accused of selling Perry the lethal dose. Authorities continue their investigations into the broader network involved in Perry’s overdose.