Doctor Sentenced to Prison for Role in Matthew Perry's Fatal Overdose

A California physician who supplied ketamine to Matthew Perry in the weeks before the actor's fatal overdose has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, marking the first punishment handed down in the high-profile case.

Salvador Plasencia, 44, known to some patients as "Dr. P," received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, who also imposed a $5,600 fine and ordered him taken into custody immediately.

Federal prosecutors said Plasencia played a central role in an underground drug network that funneled the dissociative anesthetic to the "Friends" star.

Perry, 54, was found dead at his Los Angeles home in 2023 after decades of public struggles with addiction and depression. A multiyear federal investigation later revealed how a network of medical professionals and associates provided ketamine to the actor under the guise of treatment.

Family Calls Plasencia the "Most Culpable"

During Tuesday's hearing, members of Perry's family urged the court to impose a significant sentence, describing the doctor's actions as predatory and profit-driven.

His mother, Suzanne Morrison, addressed Plasencia directly, referencing text messages in which he mocked her son and discussed how much money he could extract from him.

"There was nothing moronic about that man," she said, her voice breaking as she recalled Perry's efforts to seek help. "You took an oath to protect people. You should have protected my son."

The family said they continue to wrestle with how the physician repeatedly supplied drugs to someone so clearly vulnerable.

A Doctor's Apology and Admission

Plasencia, who surrendered his California medical license in September 2025, expressed regret while standing before the court. Behind him, his mother wept as he apologized to Perry's loved ones and referenced his own child.

"I want to raise him right," Plasencia said. "I also think about how to explain this to him. I failed myself. There is no excuse. I can't undo what's been done. I should have protected him, as his mother said. I'm just so sorry."

He pleaded guilty in July to four counts of distributing ketamine, admitting he knowingly violated medical standards and federal drug laws.

How Plasencia Entered Perry's Orbit

According to his plea agreement, Plasencia was introduced to Perry on September 30, 2023, by a patient who described the actor as a "high profile person" willing to pay "cash and lots of thousands" for ketamine infusions.

Prosecutors argued that Plasencia immediately saw an opportunity for profit, texting a co-conspirator: "I wonder how much this moron will pay" and "let's find out."

That same day, he contacted Mark Chavez, then a licensed physician in San Diego, and purchased nearly $800 worth of ketamine vials, tablets, syringes, and gloves. He drove to Perry's home, injected him with ketamine, and left at least one vial with the actor's personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. Iwamasa paid Plasencia $4,500 for the visit.

Over the next two weeks, Plasencia bought additional supplies from Chavez and administered the drug to Perry several more times, including once in the backseat of the actor's car in a Long Beach parking lot.

In one session, Perry's blood pressure spiked so severely that he froze up, yet the doctor continued providing vials for Iwamasa to inject later.

Between September 30 and October 12, 2023, Plasencia distributed 20 vials of ketamine and multiple tablets to Perry and his assistant. Prosecutors said he charged a total of $57,000 for services that typically cost a fraction of that amount.

Stockpiling Drugs Ahead of the Fatal Overdose

After placing an order for 10 vials of ketamine through a licensed pharmaceutical distributor, Plasencia texted Iwamasa on October 27, 2023: "I know you mentioned taking a break. I have been stocking up on the meanwhile. I am not sure when you guys plan to resume but in case its when im out of town this weekend I have left supplies with a nurse of mine... I can always let her know the plan. [sic]"

Perry died the following day from a ketamine overdose. Investigators determined that Plasencia did not provide the specific dose that killed him but said his actions helped create the dangerous pattern of use that led to the fatality.

Additional Defendants Await Sentencing

Plasencia was one of five people charged in the case, including another physician, Perry's assistant, and two individuals involved in supplying the deadly dose. All have pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced in the coming months.

Prosecutors initially sought a three-year term for Plasencia. While the charges carried a maximum of 40 years, the judge opted for a 30-month sentence, citing the doctor’s acceptance of responsibility but underscoring the severity of his misconduct.

As the courtroom emptied, Perry's family said they hoped the sentence would serve as a measure of accountability for a loss they continue to feel deeply.