A fourth conviction has occurred in Matthew Perry’s death case as a doctor pleaded guilty.

The Department of Justice stated that Dr. Salvador Plasencia pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine during a hearing on Wednesday, July 23, per ABC News.

“Dr. Plasencia is profoundly remorseful for the treatment decisions he made while providing ketamine to Matthew Perry,” his attorney, Karen Goldstein, said in a statement to the outlet. “He is fully accepting responsibility by pleading guilty to drug distribution.”

Plasencia’s lawyer stated that the medical professional will voluntarily surrender his medical license as an acknowledgement of his “failure to protect” the late actor who struggled with addiction.

Two months after Matthew Perry died at age 54 in October 2023, his death was ruled an accident. That ruling proved to be far from the end of the story. A December 2023 toxicology report concluded that Perry died from “the acute effects of ketamine.” The report noted that Perry had been receiving regular ketamine […]

“While Dr. Plasencia was not treating Mr. Perry at the time of his death, he hopes his case serves as a warning to other medical professionals and leads to stricter oversight and clear protocols for the rapidly growing at-home ketamine industry in order to prevent future tragedies like this one,” the attorney said.

Plasencia will remain out on bond until his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for December 3, 2025. He is facing up to 40 years in prison.

Plasencia’s conviction comes two months after he agreed to a plea deal.

“At the earliest opportunity requested by the USAO and provided by the Court, appear and plead guilty to Counts Six, Eight, Nine, and Ten of the first superseding indictment in United States v. Salvador Plasencia, which each charge defendant with distribution of ketamine,” the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Central District of California stated in a plea agreement per a June report from Deadline.

Perry died at age 54 due to the “acute effects of ketamine” in October 2023. While Perry’s death was ruled an accident, the Los Angeles Police Department opened an investigation into Perry’s death several months later.

In August 2024, Plasencia, Jasveen Sangha, Kenneth Iwamasa, Erik Fleming and Dr. Mark Chavez were charged in connection with Perry’s death. Iwamasa was Perry’s live-in assistant and admitted to administering ketamine to the actor. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. Iwamasa is scheduled to be sentenced in November.

UPDATE: 6/16/25 at 6:25 p.m. PT — Deadline confirmed that Salvador Plasencia made a plea deal with the Department of Justice, and faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison for supplying Matthew Perry with ketamine before his death.  “At the earliest opportunity requested by the USAO and provided by the Court, appear and […]

That same month, Fleming admitted that he supplied the ketamine that killed Perry. He subsequently pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Fleming is scheduled to be sentenced in November.

In October 2024, Chavez pleaded guilty to distributing ketamine and will be sentenced in September.

Sangha, who has been referred to as the “Ketamine Queen,” has been accused of selling ketamine to Perry and working with Fleming and Iwamasa to distribute the drugs to the actor. She has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go on trial in August.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).