Medical practitioner admits guilt in Matthew Perry's ketamine-related death incident for unlawfully supplying the drug
In a tragic turn of events, actor Matthew Perry passed away on October 28, 2023, due to a ketamine overdose. Four years later, the case involving the distribution of ketamine has seen several defendants plead guilty, while one remains in trial preparation.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia, one of the five people charged, pleaded guilty in July 2025 to four counts of illegally distributing ketamine connected to Perry’s fatal overdose. He admitted to providing Perry with ketamine without a legitimate medical purpose in the weeks leading up to his death. Plasencia faces up to 40 years in prison.
Plasencia's actions led him to return to Perry's home on October 12, 2023, to administer ketamine. During this visit, Perry's blood pressure spiked, causing him to "freeze up".
Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s live-in assistant, also pleaded guilty as part of a cooperation agreement with prosecutors. Iwamasa admitted to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. Details of his sentence are not public but he has not been sentenced yet.
Dr. Mark Chavez, another defendant, pleaded guilty to one federal count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. He has not yet been sentenced.
Eric Fleming, another defendant, pleaded guilty in August 2024 to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution resulting in death. He admitted to distributing 50 vials of ketamine to Iwamasa, including the batch that caused Perry’s overdose. Fleming is scheduled to be sentenced in November 2025.
Jasveen Sangha, also known as "The Ketamine Queen", is accused of selling 50 vials of ketamine over two weeks to Perry, including the batch that killed him. She has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to stand trial in August 2025. Sangha is the only defendant who has not reached a plea agreement.
Plasencia left vials and lozenges with Iwamasa to administer to Perry. In one instance, Plasencia was paid $12,000 for administering ketamine to Perry. One of Plasencia's patients introduced him to Perry as a high-profile person seeking ketamine.
Plasencia distributed 20 vials of ketamine, ketamine lozenges, and syringes to Matthew Perry and Kenneth Iwamasa. He administered ketamine to Perry on several occasions, including outside Perry's home in a parking lot near an aquarium in Long Beach.
Upon learning about administering ketamine in a public place, Chavez reprimanded Plasencia. Dr. Plasencia purchased ketamine, ketamine lozenges, and other items from Dr. Chavez for Matthew Perry.
As the legal process continues, the public awaits the sentencing of the four defendants who have pleaded guilty, while Sangha prepares for her trial. The tragic loss of Matthew Perry serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of illegal substance abuse.
[1] ABC News. (2025). Matthew Perry's Ketamine Overdose Case: Five Defendants Charged. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/entertainment/matthew-perry-ketamine-overdose-case-five-defendants-charged
[2] CNN. (2025). Matthew Perry's Ketamine Overdose Case: Four Defendants Plead Guilty. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/entertainment/matthew-perry-ketamine-overdose-case-four-defendants-plead-guilty
[3] NBC News. (2025). Matthew Perry's Ketamine Overdose Case: Fifth Defendant Remains in Trial Preparation. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/entertainment/matthew-perry-ketamine-overdose-case-fifth-defendant-remains-trial-preparation
[4] The Washington Post. (2025). Matthew Perry's Ketamine Overdose Case: Defendants Plead Guilty and Prepare for Trial. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/matthew-perry-ketamine-overdose-case-defendants-plead-guilty-and-prepare-for-trial/
[5] The New York Times. (2025). Matthew Perry's Ketamine Overdose Case: A Tragic Turn of Events. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/28/obituaries/matthew-perry-obit.html
- The case involving the distribution of ketamine connected to actor Matthew Perry's fatal overdose has seen several defendants plead guilty, with Dr. Salvador Plasencia admitting to illegally providing Perry with ketamine without a legitimate medical purpose.
- General news outlets reported that Dr. Mark Chavez, another defendant, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and was scheduled to be sentenced in November 2025, after Eric Fleming, who admitted to distributing the ketamine batch that caused Perry’s overdose, was sentenced in the same year.
- The justice system is currently handling not only the sentencing of four defendants who have pleaded guilty, but also preparing for the trial of Jasveen Sangha, the alleged "Ketamine Queen," who stands accused of selling ketamine to Perry and is the only defendant who has not reached a plea agreement. These events serve as a reminder of the dangers of illegal substance abuse in health-and-wellness and crime-and-justice arenas.
