A former Santa Monica physician has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for distributing ketamine to actor Matthew Perry, despite knowing about Perry’s history of drug addiction and allowing an untrained personal assistant to administer the drug. Salvador Plasencia, 44, also known as “Dr. P,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, who additionally imposed a $5,600 fine and ordered Plasencia into immediate federal custody.
Plasencia pleaded guilty on July 23 to four counts of ketamine distribution. He surrendered his California medical license in September 2025.
As the owner of Malibu Canyon Urgent Care LLC in Calabasas, Plasencia was aware that ketamine is a controlled substance typically used as an anesthetic and, without FDA approval, for treating depression and other psychiatric conditions. Court documents noted that he recognized risks associated with ketamine use—including sedation, psychiatric events, abuse, and misuse—and believed patients should be monitored by a physician during treatment.
On September 30, 2023, Plasencia met Perry through another patient who described Perry as “a high profile person” seeking ketamine and willing to pay large sums in cash. Prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum: “Rather than do what was best for Mr. Perry – someone who had struggled with addiction for most of his life – [Plasencia] sought to exploit Perry’s medical vulnerability for profit. Indeed, the day [Plasencia] met Perry he made his profit motive known, telling a co-conspirator: ‘I wonder how much this moron will pay’ and ‘let’s find out.’”
That same day, Plasencia contacted Mark Chavez—a licensed San Diego physician at the time—and drove to Costa Mesa to purchase $795 worth of ketamine vials and tablets along with syringes and gloves from him. He then went to Perry’s Los Angeles home where he injected the actor with ketamine and left at least one vial with Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s personal assistant. Iwamasa paid Plasencia $4,500.
In subsequent weeks, Plasencia continued buying ketamine from Chavez and administered it multiple times at Perry’s home and once in a Long Beach parking lot inside Perry’s vehicle. During one session at Perry’s residence, Perry experienced elevated blood pressure but Plasencia still left additional vials with Iwamasa knowing they would be used without medical supervision.
Between September 30 and October 12 of 2023, prosecutors said Plasencia distributed 20 vials plus multiple tablets of ketamine and syringes to Iwamasa and Perry while being aware these actions were not medically legitimate or safe. The total charge for these services reached $57,000 even though typical prices were around $15 per vial.
Later that month using his DEA license, Plasencia ordered more ketamine from a pharmaceutical company. On October 27 he texted Iwamasa: “I know you mentioned taking a break. I have been stocking up on the meanwhile. I am not sure when you guys plan to resume but in case its when im out of town this weekend I have left supplies with a nurse of mine …I can always let her know the plan.”
Matthew Perry died from a fatal overdose on October 28; authorities confirmed that the fatal dose did not come from Plasencia.
After learning about the overdose—and after receiving a subpoena from the DEA—Plasencia created false treatment notes and invoices regarding his dealings with Perry in an attempt to hide illegal sales of ketamine vials to Iwamasa.
Chavez and Iwamasa previously pleaded guilty to federal drug charges; their sentencings are scheduled for December 17, 2025 (Chavez) and January 14, 2026 (Iwamasa). Two other defendants connected with Perry’s death—Erik Fleming of Hawthorne and Jasveen Sangha (“Ketamine Queen”) of North Hollywood—also pleaded guilty to federal drug charges; they await sentencing early next year.
The investigation involved the Los Angeles Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Ian V. Yanniello (National Security Division) and Haoxiaohan H. Cai (Major Frauds Section) prosecuted the case.
