Los Angeles, California – June 17: In a shocking development surrounding the tragic death of beloved actor Matthew Perry, Dr. Salvador Plasencia has agreed to plead guilty to four federal charges of illegally distributing ketamine. The Friends star, who died in October 2023 from a drug overdose, was found unresponsive in his hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home.
According to a report from Variety, the plea deal—filed in federal court—reveals that Plasencia administered ketamine to Perry without valid medical justification in the weeks leading up to his death. Prosecutors indicated that the powerful anesthetic was given under false pretenses, masked as treatment, while no legitimate medical plan existed.
The plea deal outlines a recommended sentence of 15 to 21 months in prison, though the final decision rests with the presiding judge.
Investigators uncovered disturbing communications during the probe, including a text from Plasencia to another doctor in which he wrote:
“I wonder how much this moron will pay… Let’s find out,”
mocking Perry’s behavior and suggesting a clear disregard for ethical medical practice.
The case is part of a larger federal investigation into a ketamine distribution ring that allegedly supplied dangerous drugs to celebrities and others. Additional suspects include:
- Jasveen Sangha, dubbed the “Ketamine Queen”, who faces serious drug trafficking charges for allegedly operating a stash house in North Hollywood. Her trial is scheduled for August.
- Erik Fleming, Kenneth Iwamasa, and Mark Chavez, who have pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in connection with the drug network.
Authorities say Plasencia even went so far as to fabricate a false treatment plan for Matthew Perry in a last-ditch effort to cover his tracks.
The death of the 54-year-old actor—who rose to fame as Chandler Bing on the hit show Friends—sent waves of grief through the entertainment industry and across the globe, sparking renewed conversations around mental health, addiction, and the misuse of prescription drugs in Hollywood.