❓WHAT HAPPENED: Doctor Salvador Plasencia has agreed to plead guilty to four charges related to the drowning death of actor Matthew Perry, stemming from the acute effects of ketamine use.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Dr. Salvador Plasencia, Dr. Mark Chavez, Matthew Perry, and U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Martin Estrada.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The plea agreement was filed on Monday, June 16, 2025, in federal court, with Plasencia expected to enter his guilty plea at some point in the next few weeks.
💬KEY QUOTE: Estrada told he court that Plasencia and the ketamine dealers “took advantage of Mr. Perry,” selling him an estimated “50 vials of ketamine for approximately $11,000 in cash.”
🎯IMPACT: Plasencia will face a maximum of 40 years in prison under the plea agreement.
Doctor Salvador Plasencia has agreed to plead guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine in relation to the death of actor Matthew Perry, best known for his starring role on the hit sitcom Friends. The plea agreement, filed in federal court late Monday, June 16, will see Plasencia face a maximum of 40 years in prison for his role in the October 28, 2023, death of Perry, who drowned in the hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home. The drowning was determined to be the result of the acute effects of ketamine use.
According to Martin Estrada, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Dr. Plasencia and his co-conspirators procured an estimated “20 vials [of ketamine] for approximately $50,000 in cash.” The drugs were given to Kenneth (Kenny) Iwamasa—Perry’s live-in assistant—to deliver to the 54-year-old actor. Estrada told he court that, on another occasion, Plasencia and the ketamine dealers “took advantage of Mr. Perry,” selling him an estimated “50 vials of ketamine for approximately $11,000 in cash.”
The prosecution alleged that it was Plasencia who taught Iwamasa how to inject Perry with the ketamine, which he obtained from Dr. Mark Chavez. Estrada detailed how Chavez used bogus prescriptions, supposedly for a former patient, to acquire the ketamine that was subsequently sold to Perry. “I wonder how much this moron will pay,” Dr. Plasencia allegedly wrote to Chavez at one point, adding: “Let’s find out.”
Aside from Plasencia’s plea agreement, Dr. Chavez agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Meanwhile, Iwamasa entered a plea of guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, causing death, last August. Notably, drug dealer Eric Fleming also pleaded guilty last August to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Fleming and his boss, Jasveen Sangha, are alleged to have provided additional drugs for Perry. Sangha is set to face trial this coming August.