Los Angeles, CA —
More than a year after the tragic death of Friends star Matthew Perry, one of the doctors involved in the case has admitted guilt in a shocking turn of events that confirms the worst fears of fans and investigators: Perry didn’t just overdose — he was given the fatal dose under a doctor’s instruction.
Federal court documents filed June 16 reveal that Dr. Salvador Plascencia, a California-based physician, has reached a plea deal with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to four felony counts related to the illegal distribution of ketamine. The plea could lead to up to 40 years in federal prison.
Perry, who died in October 2023, was found unresponsive in his home. His cause of death was later confirmed to be acute ketamine toxicity. At the time, questions swirled around how the 54-year-old actor obtained such a lethal dose. Now, the details are coming into focus — and they’re grim.
According to prosecutors, Dr. Plascencia illegally supplied ketamine to Perry just weeks before his death. But more disturbing is the role played by Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s assistant, who allegedly injected the fatal dose — reportedly under Plascencia’s direct instruction.
Iwamasa has already pleaded guilty in the case, alongside Dr. Mark Chavez, and Eric Fleming, a suspected dealer. One final defendant — Jaswin Sanga, a woman nicknamed the “Ketamine Queen” — has yet to enter a plea.
Investigators say Perry originally used ketamine as part of a legal therapy regimen to treat depression. But over time, that therapy allegedly spiraled into illicit sourcing and reckless dosing.
According to court records, Perry received an alarming 27 ketamine injections over the span of just three days leading up to his death.
$55,000 in Cash for Ketamine
The case also exposed a lucrative and illegal ketamine supply chain. Documents allege that Perry paid $55,000 in cash for 20 vials of ketamine — paying $2,000 per vial, even though suppliers acquired them for as little as $12 each.
The transactions, prosecutors say, were conducted outside of medical protocols, without documentation or prescription, and in violation of federal law.
“This wasn’t just malpractice. It was predatory,” one federal prosecutor stated anonymously. “A trusted doctor facilitated the drug that killed him — and got paid handsomely to do it.”
A Tragic Fall
Matthew Perry’s death sent shockwaves through Hollywood and among millions of fans worldwide. Best known for his role as Chandler Bing, the actor had long been open about his struggles with addiction. In the final years of his life, Perry appeared to be finding peace, even publishing a memoir that reflected on his personal battles and his hopes for the future.
Behind the scenes, however, federal investigators say he was being exploited by people he trusted — including licensed medical professionals.
Though Perry was known to be proactive about his mental health, often seeking cutting-edge treatments, this case reveals how a system designed to help him became his undoing.
Justice in Progress
Dr. Plascencia is now the fourth person to plead guilty in the case. Sentencing is expected in the coming months, and prosecutors say they will push for the maximum penalty.
One defendant, Iwamasa — the assistant who allegedly gave Perry the final injection — has reportedly cooperated with investigators and will testify in ongoing proceedings against the final remaining defendant.
Meanwhile, fans continue to mourn.
Lisa Kudrow, Perry’s Friends co-star, previously shared that she discovered a 20-year-old letter from him after his death. “He had a big heart, and people took advantage of that,” she said in a 2025 interview.
Now, with the truth emerging from the courtroom, many are left wondering how different things could have been — if only someone had chosen to help rather than profit.
