Doctor Who Prescribed Matthew Perry Ketamine and Insulted Him Receives 30 Months in Prison

Salvador Plasencia, a physician who provided ketamine to Matthew Perry, has been sentenced to 30 months in prison. Plasencia had previously admitted guilt to four counts of ketamine distribution, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California confirmed on Wednesday, December 3.

The beloved Friends actor, 54, tragically passed away on October 28, 2023, after an accidental ketamine overdose at his Pacific Palisades, California home. The autopsy confirmed that Perry was injected with ketamine three times on the day of his death, with additional contributing factors including drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine, a medication used for opioid treatment.

Perry, who had a long history of substance struggles, had been using ketamine therapy to manage depression and anxiety. In the months before his death, he became dependent on the drug, sometimes using six to eight injections daily, court documents revealed.

Authorities charged five individuals in connection with Perrys death, including Plasencia and 41-year-old Jasveen Sangha, known as the Ketamine Queen. Sangha allegedly supplied ketamine to Perry in the final weeks of his life, and on October 24, 2023, her distribution was linked to the actors death, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. She pleaded guilty to multiple counts, including maintaining a drug-involved premises and distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious injury.

Others involved, including Perrys longtime assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, Erik Fleming, and Dr. Mark Chavez, also admitted guilt and cooperated with prosecutors in the case against Plasencia and Sangha. Court documents revealed that Plasencia sent messages to Chavez about charging Perry for ketamine, referring to him as a moron.

The investigation highlighted how the accused exploited Perrys addiction, supplying him with ketamine during his final weeks. All five charged individuals have now pleaded guilty to offenses related to his death.

Author: Gavin Porter