Matthew Perry's Doctor To Plead Guilty to Supplying Ketamine: What To Know

Newsweek

5 hours ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
One of the doctors charged in Matthew Perry's death has agreed to plead guilty to four counts of distributing ketamine to the Friends actor, according to a new court agreement.
Prosecutors will drop Dr. Salvador Plasencia's three additional counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of falsifying records in exchange for the plea, per The Associated Press (AP).
The Context
Perry was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023. An autopsy report from the County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner (DME) revealed he died from the "acute effects of ketamine." Drowning and coronary artery disease also contributed to his death, which was ruled an accident.
Matthew Perry is seen in New York City on March 30, 2017.
Matthew Perry is seen in New York City on March 30, 2017.
Mike Pont/WireImage
Over the years, Perry had been open about his struggle with addiction. In his 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, he shared that he began drinking at the age of 14.
Perry rose to fame as Chandler Bing on the hit NBC sitcom Friends alongside Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer and Matt LeBlanc. The TV star appeared in other series too, like Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Go On and The Odd Couple. The five-time Emmy nominee dabbled in films as well, with roles in The Whole Nine Yards, 17 Again and more.
What To Know
In a signed document filed in a Los Angeles court on Monday, Plasencia agreed to the guilty plea, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison.
In the agreement, Plasencia—who had operated an urgent care clinic in Malibu, California—said he connected with Perry through another patient. In the leadup to Perry's death, Plasencia distributed 20 vials of ketamine, ketamine lozenges and syringes to Perry and the comedian's live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa.
The other doctor charged in the case, Mark Chavez, was tasked with supplying the substance to Perry, the AP reported.
Three other defendants, including Chavez, agreed to plead guilty in 2024 in exchange for their cooperation.
"I wonder how much this moron will pay," Plasencia texted Chavez, according to Chavez's plea agreement.
What People Are Saying
Perry's Friends co-stars paid tribute to the actor in 2023 following his death.
Aniston wrote via Instagram at the time: "Oh boy this one has cut deep... Having to say goodbye to our Matty has been an insane wave of emotions that I've never experienced before. We all experience loss at some point in our lives. Loss of life or loss of love. Being able to really SIT in this grief allows you to feel the moments of joy and gratitude for having loved someone that deep. And we loved him deeply. He was such a part of our DNA. We were always the 6 of us."
Kudrow shared on Instagram: "Thank you for making me laugh so hard at something you said, that my muscles ached, and tears poured down my face EVERY DAY. Thank you for your open heart in a six way relationship that required compromise. And a lot of 'talking.' Thank you for showing up at work when you weren't well and then, being completely brilliant. Thank you for the best 10 years a person gets to have. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for all I learned about GRACE and LOVE through knowing you. Thank you for the time I got to have with you, Matthew."
Cox said on Instagram: "I am so grateful for every moment I had with you Matty and I miss you every day. When you work with someone as closely as I did with Matthew, there are thousands of moments I wish I could share."
Schwimmer posted on Instagram: "Thank you for ten incredible years of laughter and creativity. I will never forget your impeccable comic timing and delivery. You could take a straight line of dialogue and bend it to your will, resulting in something so entirely original and unexpectedly funny it still astonishes. And you had heart. Which you were generous with, and shared with us, so we could create a family out of six strangers."
LeBlanc added on Instagram: "It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye. The times we had together are honestly among the favorite times of my life. It was an honor to share the stage with you and to call you my friend. I will always smile when I think of you and I'll never forget you. Never. Spread your wings and fly brother you're finally free. Much love. And I guess you're keeping the 20 bucks you owe me."
What Happens Next
Chavez pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute ketamine in October. He is set to be sentenced in September.
Plasencia is expected to enter his guilty plea in the coming weeks.