A doctor who supplied actor Matthew Perry with ketamine in the weeks leading up to his death has agreed to plead guilty to multiple federal charges, according to court documents.
Matthew Perry doctor, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, is expected to formally plead guilty in the coming weeks, admitting to four counts of ketamine distribution. The plea deal, filed in federal court on Monday, carries a potential sentence of up to 40 years in prison.
The charges stem from an investigation into the death of Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom Friends. Perry was found dead on October 28, 2023, in the hot tub of his Pacific Palisades home.
Authorities later confirmed the cause of death involved the effects of ketamine, a powerful dissociative anesthetic that can induce hallucinations and sedation.
According to federal investigators, Plasencia became involved with Perry through the actor’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, in September 2023—just weeks before Perry’s death. Plasencia allegedly instructed Iwamasa on how to administer ketamine injections to Perry and served as a direct supplier of the drug.
Plasencia obtained the ketamine from Dr. Mark Chavez, another physician who previously operated a ketamine clinic. Prosecutors allege that Chavez falsified a prescription using the name of a former patient in order to acquire the controlled substance, which was then passed along to Plasencia for Perry’s use.
Both Chavez and Iwamasa remain under investigation, though no formal charges have been announced against them as of now.
This case has drawn significant public attention, especially given Perry’s well-documented struggles with substance abuse. In the years leading up to his death, the actor was open about his battles with addiction, even writing a memoir titled Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, in which he described multiple near-death experiences and long stretches of sobriety.
The revelations from the case have sparked outrage among Perry’s fans and those close to him, who say that his medical team failed to protect him. Some have accused the doctors involved of showing indifference toward Perry’s health and history of addiction.
“It’s sickening,” said one anonymous friend of Perry. “He trusted these people, and they failed him in the worst possible way.”
The federal charges against Plasencia are part of a broader crackdown on medical professionals who illegally distribute controlled substances. Authorities have pledged to hold those accountable who exploit their positions and endanger lives, particularly in high-profile cases like this one.
Further developments are expected as the investigation continues.