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Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a California physician comprising a key figures in the criminal investigation into the death of Friends actor Matthew Perry, is facing sentencing today in a federal court in Los Angeles. Plasencia, 43, previously pleaded guilty to four counts of illegally distributing ketamine, a powerful anesthetic that the medical examiner ruled was the primary cause of Perry's death in October 2023. The proceedings mark a significant chapter in the legal fallout surrounding the actor's passing, which exposed a predatory network of medical professionals and drug suppliers targeting vulnerable celebrities.
Federal prosecutors revealed that Plasencia used his medical license to exploit Perry’s well-documented history of addiction for financial gain. Between September and October 2023, Plasencia distributed approximately 20 vials of ketamine to the actor in exchange for $55,000 in cash. According to PBS News, the doctor’s callous attitude toward his patient was captured in text messages to a colleague where he wrote, “I wonder how much this moron will pay.” Under the terms of his plea agreement, Plasencia faces up to 40 years in prison, though sentencing guidelines may result in a shorter term. He has also agreed to surrender his medical license.
Plasencia was not the only medical professional involved in the scheme. As reported by CBS News, he acquired the ketamine from Dr. Mark Chavez, who operated a ketamine clinic and has also pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges. The drugs were often administered by Perry’s live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, whom Plasencia taught to inject the drug despite Iwamasa having no medical training. The investigation highlighted how Plasencia viewed Perry as a revenue stream, aiming to become the actor’s exclusive supplier of the drug despite witnessing adverse reactions during administration.
The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of off-label ketamine use and the lack of oversight in private treatments. While Plasencia provided illegal supplies, prosecutors noted that he did not provide the specific dose that killed Perry; that lethal batch was allegedly sourced from Jasveen Sangha, known as the “Ketamine Queen.” According to the Addiction Center, the sentencing of Plasencia serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of unregulated ketamine therapy and the exploitation of patients struggling with substance use disorders.
