Salvador Plasencia, the doctor convicted for supplying Matthew Perry with ketamine, is appealing his 30-month prison sentence, arguing he was “nothing more than a drug dealer,” not Perry’s doctor—and that the punishment was too harsh.
Salvador Plasencia is asking to change the sentence tied to Matthew Perry’s death, insisting that the court treated him like a physician acting in a doctor’s role when he gave the ketamine that ultimately proved fatal.
Plasencia, who was sentenced to 30 months in prison on Dec. 3, 2025, for supplying Perry with the ketamine that led to his overdose death, is appealing on grounds that he should be resentenced. He was charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine and other related offenses.
In a defense brief obtained by TheWrap. Plasencia argues he was not acting as Perry’s doctor when he provided the “Friends” star with ketamine and that the sentence imposed on him was too steep. The filing describes him in stark terms: “He was nothing more than a drug dealer.” It adds. “There was therefore no abuse of a position of trust or use of a special skill.”.
Perry was found dead in his hot tub on Oct. 28, 2023. His cause of death was ruled a ketamine overdose with drowning as a factor. Plasencia was the first person to receive prison time for his role in Perry’s death.
When Plasencia was charged, he said, “I failed Mr. Perry.” He continued, “I failed his family. I should have protected him.”
Prosecutors had originally pursued three years in prison. The defense asked the court to impose a sentence of probation. The physician’s four counts of ketamine distribution carried a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. a range that underscores just how much the argument has shifted between what the state sought. what the defense urged. and what the judge ultimately imposed.
The fight over how Plasencia should be viewed isn’t only legal—it also reflects what the judge believed the evidence showed. Text messages reportedly revealed that Plasencia wondered “how much this moron will pay” when providing Perry with ketamine. The judge said that demonstrated a clear mission to “exploit Mr. Perry’s addiction for your own profit.”.
The ketamine case has involved multiple defendants tied to Perry’s death. Jasveen Sangha, AKA The Ketamine Queen, earned a 15-year sentence for her connection to the death. Perry’s assistant Kenneth Iwamasa was sentenced to more than 3 years in prison. The other individuals tried and charged were Erik Fleming and Dr. Mark Chavez.
Matthew Perry Salvador Plasencia Friends ketamine overdose hot tub death sentence appeal drug dealer argument Dec. 3 2025 conspiracy to distribute ketamine