Salvador Plasencia, a former physician based in the Los Angeles area, was sentenced today to 30 months in federal prison for illegally distributing ketamine to Matthew Perry in the weeks preceding the actor’s death. Plasencia pleaded guilty in July to four counts of ketamine distribution and surrendered his medical license shortly afterward.
During the hearing, the judge dismissed the defense’s argument that Plasencia had been attempting to treat Perry’s depression, ruling instead that his actions represented a clear exploitation of Perry’s long‑standing addiction. Authorities said Plasencia made large quantities of ketamine available — including liquid vials and lozenges — despite knowing that Perry had been struggling with substance abuse. Text messages introduced as evidence reportedly revealed Plasencia referring to Perry as a potential “cash” source, underscoring the profit‑driven nature of the transactions.
Though the ketamine that ultimately claimed Perry’s life was not supplied directly by Plasencia, the court found that his pattern of distribution significantly contributed to the actor’s downward spiral and vulnerability. Alongside the prison term, Plasencia must serve two years of supervised release and pay a fine of $5,600. Federal prosecutors labeled him a “drug dealer in a white coat,” pointing to a fundamental betrayal of the duty doctors owe to their patients.
Plasencia is the first of five individuals convicted in connection with Perry’s overdose death to be sentenced. Others — including a second physician, Perry’s personal assistant, and two suppliers — are awaiting their court dates. This case has raised troubling questions about the ethics of off‑label ketamine therapy, the responsibilities of medical professionals, and the ways in which vulnerable patients can be exploited under the guise of treatment.
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