Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a doctor who has been charged over the death of Matthew Perry, is set to plead guilty in connection to the Friends actor’s fatal overdose. Warning: some may find this content distressing.
Perry, best known as Chandler Bing on Friends, was open about his struggles with addiction, having battled with drug use during his time on the TV show before getting clean. But on October 28, 2023, Perry died at age 54.
An autopsy ruled the cause of death as the “acute effects of ketamine” and subsequent drowning. While it was originally believed to have been an accident, an investigation has since revealed a substance supply network.
Five individuals, including two doctors, were arrested in 2024, and the case is ongoing. One of the medical professionals is Plasencia, a California-based physician accused of illegally distributing ketamine to Perry shortly before his death.
Who is Dr. Salvador Plasencia?
Dr. Salvador Plasencia – nicknamed “Dr. P” – is a doctor who owns Malibu Canyon Urgent Care and held a DEA license until it was revoked in 2024. He became involved in Matthew Perry’s care around September 2023, after a patient introduced them.
According to court documents, he was told Perry was seeking ketamine and was willing to pay “thousands” for it. Rather than providing standard medical supervision, Plasencia allegedly began selling and directly administering ketamine to Perry outside professional guidelines.
He is said to have contacted physician Mark Chavez, working with him to supply ketamine to Perry via his live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. Both Chavez and Iwamasa have also been arrested and charged in connection with the case.
Prosecutors claim that between September and October 2023, Plasencia supplied Perry with at least 20 ketamine vials and a package of lozenges containing the substance, and even injected the Friends actor with the drug himself.
Plasencia also coached Perry’s untrained assistant, Iwamasa, to inject the actor. Disturbing text messages revealed in the indictment show him mocking Perry, writing to Chavez, “I wonder how much this moron will pay.”
Beyond supply, Plasencia’s conduct allegedly involved falsifying documentation. Although he did not provide the fatal dose, he allegedly played a pivotal role in enabling Perry’s growing addiction and facilitating access to high-risk drugs.
Following his 2024 arrest, US Attorney Martin Estrada said, “These defendants cared more about profiting off of Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being.
“Drug dealers selling dangerous substances are gambling with other people’s lives over greed. This case, along with our many other prosecutions of drug-dealers who cause death, send a clear message that we will hold drug-dealers accountable for the deaths they cause.”
Plasencia enters plea deal in Matthew Perry case
Court documents filed on Monday, June 16, 2025 reveal that Plasencia has agreed to plead guilty to four federal counts of distributing ketamine – including supplying to both Perry and his assistant.
In exchange for the plea deal, prosecutors have agreed to drop three additional counts of distribution and two counts of falsifying records. He’s expected to formally enter the plea in the coming weeks, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.
Prosecutors and his defense will likely present mitigating circumstances at sentencing, though no official court date has been set. Plasencia marks the fourth defendant in the case who’s agreed to a plea deal.
Separately, Iwamasa and Chavez have already pleaded guilty, admitting roles in sourcing and administering the ketamine. Another defendant, Erik Fleming – a drug dealer and former rehab center director – pleaded guilty to distribution charges.
The fifth, Jasveen Sangha – the so‑called “Ketamine Queen” – is the only one who hasn’t entered a plea bargain yet. She’s accused of supplying the dose that killed Perry and is scheduled to stand trial in August.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that Plasencia has been able to continue practicing medicine despite the charges, with his clinic still up and running after renewing his license.
However, if he formally pleads guilty, he will likely lose his medical license and be barred from practicing in the future. The case is ongoing.
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