A California physician, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, has agreed to plead guilty to distributing ketamine to actor Matthew Perry in the weeks leading up to his fatal overdose, federal prosecutors announced.
The 54-year-old Friends star, beloved for his role as Chandler Bing, was found dead in his Los Angeles home hot tub in October 2023. While Perry had publicly shared his long battle with depression and addiction, his sudden death stunned fans worldwide.
Dr. Plasencia will plead guilty to four counts of distributing ketamine, a move that could land him a prison sentence of up to 40 years. His formal plea is expected in the coming weeks.
According to court documents, Plasencia administered ketamine to Perry both at the actor’s home and in a parking lot near the Long Beach Aquarium. He also trained Perry’s assistant—now a co-defendant—on how to inject the drug and sold them extra vials to keep at home.
Text messages shared by a co-defendant, Dr. Mark Chavez—who has already pleaded guilty—revealed Plasencia mocking Perry, calling him a “moron” and speculating about how much the actor would pay for ketamine.
Plasencia is one of five individuals implicated in what authorities describe as a clandestine network of doctors and dealers who illegally supplied Perry with the drug. While Perry had been prescribed ketamine legally for depression, prosecutors say he sought more than prescribed.
Between September 30 and October 12, 2023, Plasencia allegedly sold Perry and his assistant twenty 5ml vials of ketamine, ketamine lozenges, and syringes, all detailed in the plea agreement.
The case continues to shed light on the troubling intersection of celebrity, addiction, and medical ethics.
