Dr Salvador Plasencia, the doctor accused of administering ketamine to actor Matthew Perry in the lead-up to his fatal overdose, has agreed to plead guilty to four counts of ketamine distribution, as confirmed by federal prosecutors. This plea could result in a maximum imprisonment of 40 years, with Plasencia expected to formalise his plea in the coming weeks.
Authorities have focused on Plasencia and another individual purported to be a ketamine dealer, following guilty plea agreements from three other accomplices, including another medical professional. Initially set for trial in August, Plasencia failed to respond to requests for comments sent to his attorney. Perry, aged 54, was discovered deceased by his assistant on October 28, 2023, with the medical examiner subsequently ruling ketamine as the primary cause of death.
Perry had been seeking ketamine through a licensed medical practitioner, utilising it off-label for depression, a treatment gaining traction in recent years. In the month preceding his death, as Perry’s demand for the drug increased, he reportedly approached Plasencia for additional supplies. Court documents reveal that Plasencia had contacted another doctor, Mark Chavez, to obtain the drug.
Their interaction included discussions about payment, and within the same day, they allegedly exchanged multiple vials of ketamine in Costa Mesa. Prosecution claims indicated that on one occasion, Plasencia sold drugs to Perry for US$4,500 (approximately AUD$7,000) and expressed interest in supplying Perry regularly. While Plasencia is implicated in providing a substantial portion of the drug during Perry’s last weeks, another defendant, Jasmine Sangha—who is alleged to have supplied the fatal dose—is also facing trial. She has pleaded not guilty, distinguishing her from the other defendants who have all entered plea agreements.
Perry’s battle with addiction spanned many years, beginning during his tenure on the iconic series Friends, where he gained fame as Chandler Bing. He starred alongside other notable actors such as Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer for a decade, from 1994 to 2004. Perry’s struggles with substance abuse continued to be an ongoing narrative in his personal life, even after the success of the show.