Doctor Who Provided Ketamine to Matthew Perry Receives Thirty Month Federal Sentence
A former California physician was sentenced in federal court on Wednesday to serve 30 months in prison for distributing ketamine to actor Matthew Perry in the weeks before the performer’s death. Salvador Plasencia, who pleaded guilty in July to four felony counts of ketamine distribution, appeared before a federal judge in Los Angeles and surrendered to begin serving his sentence. Federal records state that he provided the actor with ketamine during a period of addiction and continued despite clear warning signs.
Investigators say the sentence followed a larger investigation into several people accused of helping Perry obtain ketamine before he died on October 28, 2023. Perry was found unresponsive in his Pacific Palisades home, and the Los Angeles County medical examiner reported that he died from the acute effects of ketamine. Authorities say Plasencia did not supply the dose that caused the death, but prosecutors argued that his earlier involvement helped maintain access to the drug.
Perry’s family addressed the court during sentencing. The judge stated that Plasencia violated the trust placed in him as a doctor and contributed to behavior that put the actor at risk. Plasencia apologized and wrote that he acted out of financial stress and failed to meet the obligations of his profession. The court also imposed two years of supervised release.
Prosecutors requested a three-year sentence, arguing that Plasencia misused his medical authority by selling ketamine for cash and turning to informal sources to obtain more. The defense sought supervised release and said he had shown remorse. The judge imposed a two and a half year sentence after considering both sides.
Court records state that Plasencia owned Malibu Canyon Urgent Care in Calabasas and held permission from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration to handle controlled substances for legitimate treatment. Under federal law, doctors may prescribe or administer drugs like ketamine only when there is a valid medical purpose and accepted medical standards are followed. Providing a controlled substance for nonmedical reasons is treated as illegal distribution. Prosecutors argued that Plasencia crossed this line by supplying ketamine based on Perry’s willingness to pay rather than medical need.
The filings also show that in late September 2023, Plasencia learned that the actor was prepared to pay large sums for ketamine and contacted another physician, Dr. Mark Chavez, to obtain the drug. Text messages cited in the indictment show discussions about price. Ketamine is a Schedule III controlled substance, meaning it has medical uses but a potential for misuse. Federal rules require strict supervision and documentation, and prosecutors argued that these protections were ignored.
The case includes elements of conspiracy law. Court records identify five participants, including Plasencia, Chavez, Perry’s acquaintance Erik Fleming, and former assistant Kenneth Iwamasa. A North Hollywood woman, Jasveen Sangha, has also pleaded guilty. Under federal rules, a conspiracy charge can apply when several people agree to participate in a drug offense and take steps toward it, even if they play different roles.
Federal sentencing considers the seriousness of the conduct and whether a position of trust was abused. Prosecutors argued that Plasencia misused privileges granted to him as a licensed physician. The defense pointed to his acceptance of responsibility. The judge stated that his conduct fell far outside professional standards.
Investigators later determined that the fatal dose of ketamine had been administered by Iwamasa, who has also pleaded guilty. Although prosecutors did not claim that Plasencia supplied that dose, they argued that he left ketamine with Perry’s assistant despite concerns about addiction. Plasencia wrote that he now recognizes those decisions as serious mistakes.
All co-defendants have pleaded guilty in federal court. Plasencia has begun serving his sentence, and additional sentencing for the remaining defendants is expected to proceed.
