Dr. Salvador Plasencia, implicated in providing ketamine to Friends star Matthew Perry prior to his tragic death, is set to plead guilty to multiple counts of drug distribution.
Doctor to Plead Guilty in Connection with Matthew Perry's Death
Doctor to Plead Guilty in Connection with Matthew Perry's Death
California’s Dr. Salvador Plasencia faces criminal charges linked to the late actor’s overdose.
In a shocking turn of events following the untimely death of beloved actor Matthew Perry, federal prosecutors have announced that Dr. Salvador Plasencia will plead guilty to four counts of distributing ketamine. The California-based doctor is expected to face a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, with his plea scheduled for the coming weeks.
Perry, famously known for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit show Friends, was discovered lifeless in his hot tub in Los Angeles in October 2023 at the age of 54. His death sent ripples of shock through the fan community, especially considering his prior openness regarding his battles with addiction and depression.
According to revelations from text messages presented to prosecutors by Dr. Mark Chavez—a doctor who has already entered a guilty plea in connection with the case—Dr. Plasencia referred to Perry as a "moron" and questioned how much the actor would be willing to pay for the drugs. Allegedly, Dr. Plasencia injected Perry with ketamine both at his residence and in the parking lot of the Long Beach Aquarium. He is accused of instructing Perry’s assistant—another co-defendant in the case—on how to administer the drug, while also selling additional vials for private use.
Dr. Plasencia is among five individuals charged in what authorities claim is an extensive underground network of dealers and medical professionals responsible for supplying Perry with the drug. Although Perry was prescribed legal amounts of ketamine for his depression, he sought more than what was deemed appropriate. The plea agreement indicates that, between September 30 and October 12, 2023, Dr. Plasencia sold twenty vials of ketamine and syringes to the actor and his assistant. Representatives for Dr. Plasencia’s legal team were unavailable for comment at this time.
