Matthew Perry's doctor pleads guilty to supplying star with ketamine before his death

The doctor who supplied Matthew Perry with ketamine before his death has pleaded guilty. The Friends star was found dead in his hot tub in October 2023, with a medical examiner later confirming that he died from "the acute effects of ketamine". Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who was often called 'Dr. P', appeared in federal court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine. The California-based doctor was facing up to 40 years in prison had he not taken the plea deal.

His attorney, Karen Goldstein, said in a statement: "Dr. Plasencia is profoundly remorseful for the treatment decisions he made while providing ketamine to Matthew Perry. He is fully accepting responsibility by pleading guilty to drug distribution." When asked by the judge if his lawyers had considered all the possibilities of pleas and sentencing, Plasencia replied: "They've considered everything." Prosecutors detailed the charges in court prior to the plea, confirming alongside Plasencia's legal team that he had not supplied Perry with the fatal dose that killed him.

They outlined that Perry had seized up and experienced a dangerous spike in blood pressure when administered one injection by the doctor, before Plasencia left additional ketamine for Perry's assistant to administer.

He had previously pleaded not guilty, but prosecutors agreed to drop three additional counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of falsifying records in exchange for the guilty plea.

Plasencia is expected to be sentenced in court on December 3 and will face up to 10 years in federal prison. He was one of five people charged in connection to the actor's death on Oct. 28, 2023 at the age of 54.

In August 2024, Perry's assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who discovered the actor's lifeless body in his hot tub, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death.

San Diego physician Mark Chavez and Erik Fleming also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death.

Plasencia admitted enlisting Dr. Chavez, who supplied the drugs. In court documents, Plasencia referred to Perry as a "moron" in texts sent to Chavez which said: "I wonder how much this moron will pay."

Jasveen Sangha, whom authorities call the "Ketamine Queen" of North Hollywood, is the only defendant who has not decided to take a plea deal in connection to the actor's death.

Fleming started reaching out to Sangha to buy vials of ketamine on Perry's behalf, according to his plea agreement. She pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute ketamine, and five counts of distribution of ketamine.