A former physician in Southern California who improperly dispensed ketamine to Matthew Perry in the weeks preceding the Friends star’s death has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison.
Plasencia, who expressed his condolences to Perry’s family earlier, was sent to federal custody at the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, marked by the Chicago-born physician’s wife, Jennifer Nicole, and his mother, who wore sunglasses in lieu of a more traditional mask in line with COVID-19 guidance.
Federal District Court Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett offered a particularly scathing critique of Plasencia for his betrayal of the medical profession. “You were supposed to do no harm,” Garnett said. “Instead, you helped keep Mr. Perry on a path that ended tragically.”
In July, Plasencia came to a negotiated bewitchment with federal authorities in the Southern District of California and pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine, a restricted Class III physician’s drug. Plasencia was one of four individuals charged with the commission of multiple felonies stemming from Perry’s death in October 2023.
Family impact statements
During the hearing, Perry’s family spoke for 2 hours about the impact Perry’s death has caused them and the devastation of losing him. His mother, Suzanne Morrison, spoke directly to Plasencia with the feeling of forever protecting and believing Perry to be unstoppable. With a motherly gaze, she said, “This is my boy. I want you to see his mother.”
Plasencia, tearfully heartbroken, replied, “I failed Mr. Perry, his family, my community. I should have defended Mr. Perry.”
Plasencia commented how one day he will have to explain to his son how he failed to protect a mother’s child. This is something he thinks of often. Matthew Perry’s Former Doctor Sentenced to 30 Months for Illicit Ketamine Supply
“An Overdose Risk”
Federal prosecutors asked for 3 years, and defense Plasencia over the death of the actor. They explain he did not provide the ketamine, however, his misconduct is what caused addiction. Ian Yanniello, assistant over the U.S. attorney, refers to the doctor as, “a drug dealer in a white coat.”
In defense of Plasencia, he is said to have lost his medical license and he was under financial pressure making a decision for lesser years on a supervised release. His lawyers said he was a good doctor and made serious and severe errors under the 13 days he was attending to actor Perry.
Family Letters Describe Betrayal
In previous letters sent to Colinas are parents expressed their anger and heartbreak. They stated that Plasencia “should have been the one to say no” and that he met their son under the table. “Did you care?” they asked. “How many others have you hurt?”
The Last Few Weeks
Perry, 54, died on October 28, 2023, in the hot tub located in his home in Pacific Palisades. The coroner stated that his death was due to the acute effects of ketamine. Investigators say that the former personal assistant of Perry, Kenneth Iwamasa, was the one to inject the fatal dose of ketamine, not Plasencia.
Prosecutors stated that Plasencia was the owner of Malibu Canyon Urgent Care, located in Calabasas, and that he had DEA privileges to prescribe and dispense controlled substances. In September 2023, a patient referred to Perry as a potential ketamine client who would pay “thousands of dollars in cash.”
Plasencia wanted the drug with the help of ketamine clinic operator Mark Chavez. In the indictment it says that Plasencia questioned the amount of money Perry would pay and stated “I wonder how much this moron will pay. Let’s find out.”
In Plasencia’s letter to the judge he talked about how he left behind vials of ketamine with Iwamasa “despite signs of addiction.” He talked about how the clinic’s misfortunes made him “cross the lines no doctor should cross. I got no outside pressure: It was my bad call,” he said.
The other defendants, including Sangha, who is said to be the “Ketamine Queen” and is the last one to be sentenced, have also admitted their guilt: Iwamasa, Chavez, and Erik Fleming. Matthew Perry’s Former Doctor Sentenced to 30 Months for Illicit Ketamine Supply