'Friends' Matthew Perry's Doctor Who Supplied Ketamine Sentenced to 2 Years and 6 Months in Prison... "Exploited Addiction"

In connection with the illegal supply of ketamine related to the death of the late Matthew Perry, a lead actor from the popular American sitcom 〈Friends〉, the responsible doctor has been sentenced to prison.

According to reports from AP and Reuters on the 3rd (local time), Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett of the Los Angeles Federal Court sentenced Dr. Salvador Plasencia (44) to 2 years and 6 months in prison and 2 years of probation for illegal distribution of ketamine.

Judge Garnett stated that the reason for the sentencing was that "the defendant continuously encouraged ketamine addiction, leading the victim to enter a path that resulted in a tragic ending." The judge also determined that Plasencia exploited Perry's state of addiction for personal gain.

During the court proceedings, Perry's sister, Madeline Morrison, stated, "The whole world is mourning my brother's death," and added, "He was the most precious friend to everyone(friend)."

Plasencia was the first of five defendants who admitted guilt related to Perry's death to be sentenced. He directly injected ketamine in Perry's home and the back seat of a parked car, admitting that these actions were not for legitimate medical purposes.

Court records revealed that Plasencia sent a text message to another doctor who supplied ketamine, referring to Perry as "I wonder how much that idiot will pay." The prosecution had sought a 3-year prison sentence for him.

Perry was found dead in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54. The LA County Coroner concluded that the primary cause of death was "acute ketamine side effects."

Perry gained worldwide popularity for his role as 'Chandler Bing', one of the six main characters in the sitcom 〈Friends〉, which aired from 1994 to 2004. However, he saddened fans by confessing in his memoir published in November 2022 that he had suffered from long-term drug and alcohol addiction.

Investigations revealed that Perry had struggled for decades to overcome addiction and had actually been drug-free at times. However, he became addicted to ketamine while undergoing infusion therapy to treat persistent depression and anxiety symptoms before his death, ultimately leading to an overdose.