Doctor Gets 2.5-Year Prison Term For Illegally Supplying Ketamine To Friends Actor Matthew Perry

Last Updated:December 04, 2025, 08:57 IST

Los Angeles Dr Salvador Plasencia was taken into custody immediately after the hearing.

Dr. Salvador Plasencia arrives at federal court for sentencing, (Photo: Reuters)

A federal judge in Los Angeles has sentenced Dr Salvador Plasencia to two and a half years in prison for illegally supplying ketamine to Friends actor Matthew Perry in the weeks before his death. The ruling was delivered on Wednesday by Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, who also ordered two years of probation. Plasencia was taken into custody immediately after the hearing.

What judge said?

During the sentencing, Judge Garnett said that although Plasencia had not supplied the lethal dose of ketamine that caused Perry’s death, his actions contributed to the actor’s decline. “You and others helped Mr Perry on the road to such an ending by continuing to feed his ketamine addiction," she said.

The judge added that Plasencia had “exploited Perry’s addiction for your own profit," quoting evidence presented in court. According to The Associated Press, Plasencia had described Perry in text messages as a “moron" who could be exploited financially.

His lawyers said he was prepared to begin serving his sentence immediately.

What Perry’s family said?

Members of Matthew Perry’s family submitted written and oral statements describing their grief. Perry’s father and stepmother, John and Debby Perry, wrote that although Plasencia “didn’t deserve to hear" their emotions, they hoped the court understood the depth of their loss. They described Perry as “a warm, loving man who was to be our rock as we aged… Our next patriarch."

Perry’s mother and two half-sisters also addressed the court. “The world mourns my brother," said Madeleine Morrison. “He was everyone’s favourite friend."

The hearing was emotional, with Plasencia’s mother seen crying as her son was led into custody.

What are the charges? 

Plasencia, 44, is the first of five defendants to be sentenced in the case. He pleaded guilty in July to four counts of distributing ketamine, part of a deal in which prosecutors dropped five additional charges. Prosecutors had asked for a three-year sentence, while the defence requested a single day in custody followed by probation.

According to court documents, Plasencia admitted that he had knowingly taken advantage of Perry’s long struggle with addiction. Perry had battled substance abuse for decades, including during his years starring in Friends.

The remaining defendants linked to Perry’s illegal ketamine supply chain are expected to be sentenced over the coming months. Perry died in 2023 at the age of 54, a loss that continues to be mourned by fans, colleagues and loved ones around the world.

News world Doctor Gets 2.5-Year Prison Term For Illegally Supplying Ketamine To Friends Actor Matthew Perry

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