Matthew Perry's Drug Dealer Sentenced to Prison for Supplying Actor with Ketamine Before Death

A former physician who supplied ketamine to "Friends" actor Matthew Perry in the weeks preceding his death was sentenced on Wednesday to 30 months in federal prison, roughly two and a half years. Salvador Plasencia, identified as "Dr. P" by Perry, appeared before a federal judge in downtown Los Angeles and immediately began serving his sentence.

Plasencia was also ordered to two years of supervised release and fined $5,600. In July, he pled guilty to four felony counts of distributing ketamine. He was among five individuals charged in connection with Perrys death in October 2023.

Prosecutors requested a three-year sentence, noting that Plasencia did not provide the final dose of ketamine that caused Perrys death. However, they argued that his severe violations of medical trust contributed significantly to the actors harm. Plasencias lawyers requested three years of supervised release instead, citing the loss of his medical license, clinic, and career as punishment already suffered.

Perry's parents expressed their grief in victim impact statements. Suzanne and Keith Morrison described Plasencia as highly culpable, emphasizing the betrayal of trust by a doctor who knowingly provided drugs to their vulnerable son. John and Debbie Perry addressed Plasencia directly, questioning his judgment and highlighting the consequences of his actions on their family.

Plasencia was among five co-conspirators indicted last year, including Dr. Mark Chavez, Erik Fleming, and former personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, all of whom have pleaded guilty. Jasveen Sangha, a North Hollywood woman dubbed the "Ketamine Queen," has also pled guilty and awaits sentencing.

Matthew Perry, 54, was found dead in the hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home on October 28, 2023. The Los Angeles County medical examiner ruled that he died from the acute effects of ketamine. Authorities confirmed that the lethal dose was administered by Iwamasa, not Plasencia.

According to court documents, Plasencia owned Malibu Canyon Urgent Care in Calabasas and was authorized by the DEA to prescribe controlled substances for legitimate medical purposes. In late September 2023, he was introduced to Perry, who reportedly offered large sums for ketamine treatment. Plasencia admitted communicating with Perry and facilitating the drug supply, despite recognizing the risks of addiction.

Plasencia acknowledged in court filings that his decisions were driven by financial strain and personal judgment, stating, "I crossed lines that no doctor should ever cross. No one forced me to do this; it was my own poor judgment and it was wrong."

Author: Chloe Ramirez