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A doctor charged with giving “Friends” star Matthew Perry ketamine while knowing he was “spiraling out of control with his addiction” in the months leading up to his overdose death agreed to plead guilty, authorities said Monday.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia, better known as “Dr. P” to his California clients, is expected to plead guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine in the coming weeks, federal prosecutors said in a statement.
The plea carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. He originally pleaded not guilty in August 2024.
Plascencia and Jasveen Sangha, 41, the “Ketamine Queen” accused of serving as Perry’s dealer, are the final two standing in the prosecution after the three other defendants, including another doctor, agreed to plead guilty for their cooperation.
All five were charged with bilking thousands of dollars from the ailing Perry by supplying him with vials of ketamine, usually costing $12 a pop, to feed his growing addiction before his tragic death on Oct. 28, 2023. The 54-year-old was undergoing ketamine therapy to help treat his depression at the time.
Plasencia allegedly helped inject Perry with the ketamine and instructed the actor’s longtime assistant, Kenny Iwamassa, to do it in his absence.
However, as Perry started to decline in the weeks leading up to his death, Plasencia backed off, according to court filings.
“Let’s not do that again,” he allegedly told Iwamassa after the actor’s blood pressure skyrocketed, causing him to “freeze up” after a high-dose injection.
Still, the doctor texted Perry’s assistant offering to sell more ketamine just one day before the actor died.
“I know you mentioned taking a break,” Plasencia wrote to the assistant in a text message, according to the indictment.
“I have been stocking up on the (sic) meanwhile. I am not sure when you guys plan to resume but in case it’s when I’m out of town this weekend I have left supplies with a nurse of mine,” and “I can always let her know the plan. I will be back in town Tuesday.”
Iwamassa, who was also charged, gave “The Whole Nine Yards” star his fatal injection.
Despite being stripped of his Drug Enforcement Agency certification, which permits medical practitioners to prescribe controlled substances to their clients, Plasencia reopened his practice in August 2024.
His trial had been scheduled to start in August.
