December 04, (THEWILL) — A California doctor, Salvador Plasencia, who admitted to supplying ketamine to late Friends star, Matthew Perry, has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison.
Plasencia, 44, received the sentence on Wednesday in a Los Angeles courtroom, along with two years of probation and a $5,600 fine.
He is the first among five defendants charged in connection with Perry’s death to be sentenced.
Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett emphasised that while Plasencia did not supply the dose that killed Perry, his actions contributed to the actor’s long battle with addiction.
“You and others helped Mr Perry on the road to such an ending by continuing to feed his ketamine addiction”, the judge said.
“You exploited Mr Perry’s addiction for your own profit”, she added
Plasencia pleaded guilty in July to four counts of distributing ketamine.
According to prosecutors, he sold 20 vials of ketamine to Perry, but noted he was not charged with causing the actor’s death and did not supply the dose that killed him.
Perry, 54, was found dead at his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023. His death was ruled an accidental drowning, with the acute effects of ketamine listed as a contributing factor.
His death renewed discussions about his years-long struggle with substance abuse, which he spoke openly about during and after his time on NBC’s hit sitcom Friends.
In court, an emotional Plasencia expressed deep remorse for his role in the events leading up to Perry’s death, offering an apology to the actor’s loved ones and his own family.
“I failed myself. There is no excuse. I can’t undo what’s been done. I know that. I should have protected him, as his mother said. I’m just so sorry.”
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
