A Santa Monica physician, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, admitted to four counts of distributing the controlled substance ketamine, which led to the tragic demise of actor Matthew Perry. The guilty plea was entered before U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett in a Los Angeles federal court on Wednesday.
Dr. Plasencia, 43, was indicted alongside four others following an investigation into the October 2023 death of Perry, who was found unresponsive in his Pacific Palisades home's hot tub. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office attributed Perry's death to the acute effects of ketamine, compounded by drowning.
According to prosecutors, Perry suffered from the toxic effects of ketamine, with the drug identified as the primary cause of death. It was alleged that an illicit network of medical professionals and suppliers, including Plasencia, facilitated the illegal distribution of ketamine to Perry.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California has stated that Dr. Plasencia now faces severe legal repercussions, including a maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $2 million. Sentencing is scheduled for December 3, and until then, Plasencia remains free on bond.
As part of his plea agreement, Plasencia has agreed to surrender his medical license within six weeks, a decision confirmed by his lawyer, Debra White. White conveyed Plasencia's deep regret over his actions, acknowledging his responsibility in the actor's death and his readiness to face the consequences.
The guilty plea by Dr. Plasencia follows similar admissions by the four other defendants linked to the case. The investigation, spearheaded by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, delved into the circumstances surrounding Perry's overdose.
While the court has yet to reveal the specifics of the plea agreement or whether Plasencia is cooperating with investigators, the plea allows him to avoid a trial initially set for August. However, he will now be sentenced under federal guidelines.
Details on how Perry obtained the drugs remain undisclosed by federal authorities, but it is clear that the ketamine that resulted in his death came through an illegal supply chain. Court documents indicate that Plasencia distributed ketamine on four separate instances, though the exact dates and circumstances have not been made public.
Matthew Perry, best known for his role in the television series "Friends," had openly discussed his battles with addiction, including a near-death experience due to drug abuse, in his 2022 memoir. His untimely death has reignited conversations about the opioid crisis and the responsibilities of medical professionals in managing prescription drugs.
