Salvador Plasencia Sentenced for Involvement in Matthew Perry’s Death

Salvador Plasencia, one of the doctors implicated in providing ketamine to actor Matthew Perry shortly before his fatal overdose, has received a 30-month prison sentence.

In a federal court on Wednesday, Plasencia pleaded guilty to multiple counts of illegally distributing the drug. His sentencing took place following the overdose death of Perry on October 28, 2023, which the Los Angeles County Coroner ruled an accident. Factors contributing to Perry’s death included not just ketamine, but also drowning and coronary artery disease.

Toxicology reports revealed a high concentration of ketamine in Perry’s bloodstream—similar to levels used for general anesthesia—which ultimately led to him losing consciousness and drowning in his bathtub.

As part of his plea deal, Plasencia admitted to administering ketamine to Perry several times prior to the actor’s death, acknowledging that he sold it “without a legitimate medical purpose.”

In addition to his prison term, Plasencia had to surrender his California medical license and pay a fine of $5,600.

“I failed Matthew Perry,” Plasencia stated during court proceedings, expressing remorse and stating he wished he had done more to safeguard him. He admitted that he ignored clear signs of Perry’s addiction and treated him without proper awareness of ketamine therapy’s implications.

In court, Plasencia requested leniency, arguing that he had already lost his medical career and that public backlash had caused his family distress, pushing them to leave for Arizona. However, prosecutors countered fiercely, pointing out that he had profited from exploiting Perry’s struggles with addiction. They cited a text message he had sent regarding his first meeting with Perry, implying financial motives.

Just last year, Plasencia, who ran Malibu Canyon Urgent Care, was referred to Perry by a patient who mentioned the actor was seeking ketamine treatment. Perry’s parents voiced their opinion in court, suggesting that Plasencia bore significant responsibility for their son’s death.

“This doctor conspired to break his most important oath and secretly visited his victims through the night multiple times. Thousands of dollars for what?” they remarked.

Another individual involved, Jasveen Sangha, often referred to as the “Ketamine Queen,” also pleaded guilty. She faces charges related to supplying the drugs linked to Perry’s overdose. Investigators had described her home as a “drug den,” where illegal substances were stored and manufactured. In March 2024, authorities found a significant cache of various drugs at her apartment, along with evidence of her illicit manufacturing practices.

Plasencia and Sangha are among the lead defendants in a case that also includes other individuals, emphasizing the extensive network engaged in this illegal activity. Prosecutors estimate that Plasencia and his co-conspirators made around $55,000 from selling ketamine shortly after Perry’s death.