A federal judge is set to sentence Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 44, who pleaded guilty to illegally selling ketamine to Matthew Perry in the weeks before the actor’s overdose death. Prosecutors are asking for a three-year prison term under a plea deal in which Plasencia admitted to distributing large amounts of ketamine to Perry — though he was not accused of supplying the dose that directly caused the fatal overdose on October 28, 2023.
According to court documents, although Perry had legally been receiving ketamine to treat depression, he turned to Plasencia after his regular doctor refused to increase his dosage. Despite knowing Perry’s history of addiction, prosecutors say Plasencia exploited the actor’s vulnerability for profit — even disparaging him in text messages as a “moron” who could be exploited.
Plasencia’s defense painted a different picture, describing him as someone who rose from poverty to become a respected doctor whose career and license have already been destroyed. In a video to the judge, the doctor said he wanted to be a father his child could be proud of, called his actions the “biggest mistake of his life,” and asserted remorse. His lawyers argued that a prison sentence was unnecessary given he has lost everything.
However, prosecutors argue that Plasencia’s actions represent a deep abuse of medical trust — trading ethics for profit at the cost of a patient’s life. The sentencing of Plasencia is only the first among five individuals charged in connection with Perry’s overdose. Others — including doctors, dealers, and the person who allegedly injected Perry — are still awaiting sentencing in separate hearings.
