A Los Angeles physician who admitted to illegally selling ketamine to actor Matthew Perry in the weeks before the Friends star’s fatal overdose has been sentenced to 2½ years in federal prison, followed by two years of probation.
Judge Condemns Exploitation of Addiction
U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett stressed that Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 44, did not supply the specific ketamine that killed Perry. However, she said his illegal sales contributed to the actor’s long struggle with addiction.
“You exploited Mr. Perry’s addiction for your own profit,” Garnett told Plasencia, who was taken into custody immediately after sentencing.
Emotional Statements from Perry’s Family
Perry’s mother and half sisters spoke tearfully in court.
“The world mourns my brother,” his sister Madeleine Morrison said. “He was everyone’s favorite friend.”
Plasencia is the first of five defendants who have pleaded guilty in the case to receive sentencing.
Guilty Plea and Prosecutors’ Arguments
Plasencia pleaded guilty in July to four counts of ketamine distribution. Prosecutors said he knowingly took advantage of Perry, citing text messages in which he referred to the actor as someone who could be exploited. They asked for a three-year sentence, while the defense requested one day in custody and probation.
Though Plasencia’s attorneys portrayed him as a doctor who overcame hardship and was admired by patients, they acknowledged his conduct was “reckless” and “the biggest mistake of his life.”
Background on Perry’s Treatment
Perry, who struggled with addiction for decades, had been receiving ketamine legally as part of a treatment regimen for depression. When his primary doctor refused to increase his dosage, he sought the drug illegally from Plasencia, who admitted knowing Perry was vulnerable.
Federal prosecutors dropped five additional charges under the plea agreement, which carried no sentencing promises. Legally, the judge could have imposed up to 40 years.
What Comes Next
Four additional defendants who also reached plea deals are set to be sentenced in the coming months.
Perry died at age 54 in 2023. Beloved for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, he remained a cultural icon long after the show’s 10-season run from 1994 to 2004.
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