A physician who admitted to selling ketamine to Matthew Perry before the Friends actor’s fatal overdose received a two-and-a-half-year prison term on Wednesday. In a Los Angeles federal court, 44-year-old Dr. Salvador Plasencia was sentenced by Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, who also imposed a two-year probation period on him.
Although Plasencia did not directly supply the ketamine that led to Perry’s death, the judge rebuked him for contributing to Perry’s addiction by enabling his ketamine dependency. She accused Plasencia of capitalizing on Perry’s struggles for personal gain.
Following the sentencing, Plasencia was escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs as his mother openly wept. Perry’s mother and two half-sisters delivered emotional victim impact statements prior to the sentencing.
Describing the impact of Perry’s passing, his sister Madeline Morrison tearfully expressed how his death profoundly affected their lives. Referring to Perry as “everyone’s favorite friend,” she emphasized that celebrities are not objects for exploitation but individuals with families.
Suzanne Perry, Perry’s mother, highlighted her son’s resilience in overcoming challenges and exemplifying strength. She dismissed derogatory remarks made about Perry, emphasizing his success despite battling addiction.
Plasencia was the first of five defendants linked to Perry’s death to be sentenced. He pleaded guilty to four counts of ketamine distribution and acknowledged exploiting Perry’s addiction for financial gain. Despite prosecutors requesting a three-year prison term, the defense sought only one day in prison along with probation.
The remaining four defendants who reached plea agreements are awaiting their own sentencing hearings in the upcoming months. Plasencia expressed remorse before the sentencing, acknowledging his failure to protect Perry and apologizing directly to his family.
Perry, known for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, had legally used ketamine to treat depression. However, when his regular doctor declined to provide the desired quantities, Perry turned to Plasencia for illegal supply, knowing Perry’s struggles with addiction.
Plasencia’s attorneys portrayed him as a compassionate doctor with a humble background who made a grave error by selling ketamine to Perry. They described his actions as reckless and emphasized his deep regret for the tragic outcome.
Perry passed away at the age of 54 after battling addiction for years, gaining fame through his portrayal on Friends alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer during the show’s ten-season run from 1994 to 2004.