LOS ANGELES (AP) — A doctor has pled guilty to selling ketamine, and a prominent “Friends” star was sentenced to two and a half years in prison during a heartfelt session regarding her overdose death.
Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett sentenced the 44-year-old to two years of probation along with a $5,600 fine in federal court in Los Angeles.
The judge highlighted that this doctor did not supply the ketamine that led to the star’s death, stating, “By continuing to enable his ketamine addiction, you and others contributed to a trajectory that resulted in such a tragedy.”
“You exploited his addiction for your own gain,” she remarked.
Plasencia was taken away in handcuffs, amid visible tears from his mother in the audience. There were discussions about a possible surrender date, but his attorneys noted that he was ready to turn himself in today.
Perry’s family expresses their sorrow
Perry’s mother, stepmother, and two half-sisters presented emotional victim impact statements ahead of the sentencing.
“My life was irreversibly altered after my brother’s death,” said his sister, Madeline Morrison, in tears. “His absence permeates everywhere.”
She elaborated on the extensive effects his loss has had.
“The world is mourning my brother. He was a friend to everyone,” expressed Prime Minister Scott Morrison, adding that celebrities are not merely figures for exploitation; they are real people with families.
Perry battled addiction for many years, tracing back to his time on “Friends,” where he shone as one of the era’s biggest stars. He worked alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer for a decade from 1994 to 2004, contributing to NBC’s massive success.
Who is accountable for Perry’s demise?
Plasencia became the first of five individuals to face sentencing related to Perry’s death, which occurred in 2023 at 54.
The doctor acknowledged he took advantage of Perry’s struggles, with court filings revealing he had referred to Perry as a “dumbass” who could be taken advantage of for profit.
The prosecution sought a three-year sentence, while the defense argued for just a day and a suspended sentence.
Perry’s mother shared her thoughts on his tremendous life challenges and the bravery he exhibited.
“We had faith he would pull through,” Suzanne Perry commented, alongside her husband, Dateline journalist Keith Morrison.
“You labeled him ‘stupid,’” she directed at Plasencia. “There was nothing foolish about him. He was a successful drug addict.”
With eloquence, she apologized for her emotions, ultimately expressing, “What you did was deeply wrong!”
Plasencia expresses remorse to Perry’s family
In a moment of vulnerability, Plasencia spoke of his son, who is now two, and the pain he felt at the thought of not being able to protect Perry. “It felt unbearable. I can’t believe we are here,” he stated.
He directly apologized to Perry’s family, saying, “I wish I had protected him.”
Perry had been using ketamine legally as a depression treatment. However, when his doctor couldn’t meet his medication needs, he turned to Plasencia.
Plasencia’s attorneys sought to present a more sympathetic view of him as a doctor who had risen from humble beginnings to become cherished by his patients.
After Suzanne Perry spoke, her mother attempted to contribute, but the judge deemed it inappropriate for the hearing.
“I’m sorry for Matthew Perry’s family,” Luz Plasencia stated to reporters waiting outside the courthouse. “I empathize with their feelings. I know the kind of person my son is,” she elaborated.
Plasencia admitted guilt in July to four counts of ketamine distribution. He neither acknowledged causing Perry’s death nor claimed any significant distribution beyond selling to Perry.
The judge mostly aligned with a probation report that recommended a sentence of eight to 14 months but imposed a longer term.
“I think the judge arrived at a fair decision,” Keith Morrison shared with reporters.
At the hearing’s outset, the judge noted that statements could be inappropriate since “there’s no identifiable victim in this case. The victims are the general public.”
Nonetheless, Plasencia’s attorney did not contest the family’s opportunity to speak.
Doctor or drug dealer?
The defense attempted to frame Plasencia as a physician facing patients overwhelmed by reckless choices and greed.
“It was a convergence of poor decisions, everyone agrees,” attorney Karen Goldstein commented, adding, “His judgment was clouded by the monetary aspect.”
Prosecutors countered that he wasn’t practicing medicine as intended.
“He wasn’t negligent or reckless as a health care provider,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian Yanniello. “He was effectively a drug dealer in a coat.”
Garnett concurred, refuting the defense’s stance that Perry was a patient as a doctor diagnosed him prior to the transactions.
“Mr. Placencia continued to initiate sales,” the judge remarked. He was outright selling ketamine.
When another defense attorney questioned, “Is the judge perhaps confused about events?” Garnett firmly responded, “No, it’s not.”
The other four defendants who have similarly pled guilty are set for sentencing in the following months, with Garnett mentioning her aim for coherent sentencing across the board.
