A doctor who supplied the late actor Matthew Perry with ketamine has been sentenced to 30 months in prison. The sentencing took place on December 3, 2025, at the Edward R. Roybal Federal Courthouse in Los Angeles.
The Charges and Guilty Plea
Dr Salvador Plasencia, 43, was one of five individuals charged in connection with the death of the Friends star. In July, he pleaded guilty to four counts of distributing ketamine. The actor, famed for playing Chandler Bing, was found dead at his home in October 2023 at the age of 54. An autopsy later concluded the cause was the 'acute effects of ketamine'.
During the nearly two-hour sentencing hearing, Plasencia addressed the court and was reported to have cried throughout his remarks. He had previously written a letter to the judge, stating: 'I did not set out to harm anyone, but my decisions during those days betrayed my duty as a physician. I crossed lines that no doctor should ever cross.'
Family's Impact Statement and Apology
Perry's family submitted a request to the judge, urging a lengthy sentence for the doctor. They labelled him the 'most culpable' and expressed bewilderment at his repeated supply of drugs to the actor. The family had previously referred to Plasencia and other defendants as 'greedy jackals' who exploited Perry's vulnerability.
In court, Plasencia publicly apologised to Perry's family for the pain he had caused. The doctor had voluntarily surrendered his medical license upon his arrest. Before the trial, he had faced a potential maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a multi-million-pound fine.
Other Defendants and Future Sentencings
The four other co-defendants in the case have also entered guilty pleas. They are:
- Perry's live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa
- Erik Fleming
- Another doctor, Dr Mark Chavez
- Jasveen Sangha, who was dubbed the 'Ketamine Queen'
These individuals, including another doctor and those who supplied the fatal dose, are scheduled to be sentenced in the coming months.
