Matthew Perry’s Doctor Sentenced for Supplying Ketamine

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Dr. Salvador Plasencia, the physician who provided Matthew Perry with ketamine leading up to the actor’s death in 2023, has been ordered to serve 30 months in federal prison.

A Los Angeles federal court issued the sentence on Wednesday. Details come from court documents and what was said during the hearing.

Before hearing his sentence, Plasencia apologized to the Perry family, saying he had let them and Mr. Perry down and should have kept him safe. In July, he admitted to distributing ketamine, but didn’t specify how much contributed to Mr. Perry’s death. He was taken into federal custody right after the sentencing.

The prosecution asked for a three-year prison sentence, but the defense requested probation instead. Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett disagreed with the defense’s claim that Plasencia originally aimed to help Perry with their depression.

She disagreed, stating that the doctor had tried to profit from Mr. Perry’s addiction. She also pointed out that Plasencia had received $55,000 during their brief relationship and suggested he would likely have received a harsher sentence if a different illegal drug was involved.

According to his lawyer, Karen Goldstein, Plasencia’s choices were driven by financial gain. She described it as a series of poor decisions coming together at once. The prosecutor, Ian Yanniello, strongly objected to efforts to minimize Plasencia’s wrongdoing, stating he wasn’t simply careless, but actively dealt drugs while posing as a doctor. Text messages showed Plasencia insulting his patient, Perry, calling him a “moron,” while also figuring out how much to charge for ketamine.

During the hearing, Perry’s family shared their thoughts. His mother, Suzanne Morrison, stated that despite his past struggles with addiction, Perry is a strong and intelligent person, and she was deeply hurt by the disrespectful language used against him. His half-sister, Madeline Morrison, explained that Plasencia exploited Perry’s weaknesses. She emphasized that celebrities are real people who deserve respect, not to be taken advantage of.

Four other defendants connected to Perry’s death have not yet been sentenced.

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2025-12-04 10:44