Doctor Accused In Matthew Perry’s Drug Overdose Case To Plead Guilty, Faces 40 Years Prison Time: Reports

Reports reveal that Dr. Plasencia will plead guilty to four felony counts of ketamine distribution to Matthew Perry!

A significant development has come up in the investigation into the tragic death of FRIENDS actor Matthew Perry. Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a California-based physician accused of supplying ketamine to the actor in the weeks leading up to his death in October 2023, has reportedly agreed to plead guilty. According to new reports, he now faces the possibility of up to 40 years behind bars.

New Update In Matthew Perry’s Drug Overdose Case

In a report by Variety, the news, confirmed by federal prosecutors on Monday, reveals that Dr. Plasencia will plead guilty to four felony counts of ketamine distribution. Prosecutors claim he provided the powerful anaesthetic to Matthew Perry and his assistant without any legitimate medical reason. These charges come with severe penalties, including a potential 2 million fine and decades in federal prison.

Authorities say Dr. Plasencia was part of a wider, underground network responsible for supplying illegal drugs to Perry. According to the reports, he was one of five individuals charged in the case. Court documents show that between September 30 and October 12, 2023, the doctor distributed multiple vials of ketamine, along with lozenges and syringes, to the late actor and his assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa.

Disturbingly, prosecutors revealed that Plasencia once gave Matthew Perry a ketamine injection at his home, and even administered the drug in a parking lot on another occasion. The plea deal also includes a shocking message sent by Plasencia to a co-defendant, in which he allegedly mocked the actor, calling him someone he could “take advantage of financially.”

In the signed agreement, Dr. Plasencia admits that his actions fell far short of proper medical standards and acknowledges that the ketamine he provided was not prescribed for legitimate treatment purposes. Three other people connected to the case, including another physician, have already pleaded guilty in return for cooperation with investigators.

Also Read: FRIENDS Star Matthew Perry Dies At 54, Fans Thank Him For All The Sarcastic Jokes As Chandler!

For the unversed, Matthew Perry was found dead at his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023, at age 54. A toxicology report confirmed that he died due to the effects of ketamine, with other factors, causing his death being heart disease and drowning.

Also Read: Ahsaas Channa, Rupali Ganguly, And More Celebs Bid Matthew Perry, AKA Chandler From Friends, Goodbye

First Published: June 17, 2025 1:11 PM