Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Design Week
Doctor who supplied drugs to ‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry pleads guilty
(FILES) US-Canadian actor Matthew Perry arrives at the premiere of Warner Bros. "The Invention of Lying" on September 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The main doctor charged in connection with the drug overdose of American-Canadian actor and "Friends" star Matthew Perry is expected to enter a guilty plea in the coming weeks, the US Justice Department said on June 16, 2025. Salvador Plasencia "has agreed to plead guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine, which carries a statutory maximum sentence of 40 years in federal prison," the department said in a statement. (Photo by Jason Merritt / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)
Latest News, News
July 23, 2025

Doctor who supplied drugs to ‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry pleads guilty

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — A doctor who supplied Matthew Perry with ketamine pleaded guilty on Wednesday in connection with the 2023 drug overdose death of the “Friends” star.

Salvador Plasencia, 43, one of five people charged over Perry’s death, pleaded guilty in a federal court in Los Angeles to four counts of distribution of ketamine.

Plasencia is to be sentenced on December 3 and faces up to 40 years in prison.

He will also surrender his medical license.

Plasencia did not provide Perry with the fatal dose of ketamine but supplied the actor with the drug in the weeks before he was found dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home.

Another doctor, Mark Chavez, pleaded guilty in October to conspiring to distribute ketamine to Perry.

Plasencia allegedly bought ketamine off Chavez and sold it to the American-Canadian actor at hugely inflated prices.

“I wonder how much this moron will pay,” Plasencia wrote in one text message presented by prosecutors.

Jasveen Sangha, the alleged “Ketamine Queen” who supplied drugs to high-end clients and celebrities, is charged with selling Perry the dose that killed him. She has pleaded not guilty.

Perry’s live-in personal assistant and another man pleaded guilty in August to charges of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.

The actor’s lengthy struggles with substance addiction were well-documented, but his death at age 54 sent shockwaves through the global legions of “Friends” fans.

A criminal investigation was launched soon after an autopsy discovered he had high levels of ketamine — an anesthetic — in his system.

In his plea deal with prosecutors, Plasencia said he went to Perry’s home to administer ketamine by injection and distributed 20 vials of the drug over a roughly two-week period in autumn 2023.

Perry had been taking ketamine as part of supervised therapy for depression.

But prosecutors say that before his death he became addicted to the substance, which also has psychedelic properties and is a popular party drug.

“Friends,” which followed the lives of six New Yorkers navigating adulthood, dating and careers, drew a massive following and made megastars of previously unknown actors.

Perry’s role as the sarcastic man-child Chandler brought him fabulous wealth, but hid a dark struggle with addiction to painkillers and alcohol.

In 2018, he suffered a drug-related burst colon and underwent multiple surgeries.

In his 2022 memoir “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,” Perry described going through detox dozens of times.

“I have mostly been sober since 2001,” he wrote, “save for about sixty or seventy little mishaps.”

Tags:

Friends Matthew Perry Overdose
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Trump rules out military action on Cuba
International News, Latest News, Regional
Trump rules out military action on Cuba
September 26, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) – United States (US) President Donald Trump on Saturday predicted that the US and Cuba will reach an agreement, and he...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Haiti PM says country at watershed moment, urges full backing for security force
International News, Latest News, Regional
Haiti PM says country at watershed moment, urges full backing for security force
September 26, 2026
UNITED NATIONS (CMC) – Haiti’s Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé says the French-speaking Caribbean country is at a “watershed moment” in its strug...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Man City chairman defiant over reported Premier League charges
International News, Latest News
Man City chairman defiant over reported Premier League charges
September 26, 2026
LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP)—Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said on Saturday that the club were confident they could prove their "innoce...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Senator Thompson implores Jamaican men to screen early for prostate cancer amid rise in cases
Latest News, News
Senator Thompson implores Jamaican men to screen early for prostate cancer amid rise in cases
September 26, 2026
Government Senator and consultant urologist Dr Elon Thompson is imploring Jamaican men to take their health seriously and in particular to get screene...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Man arrested in sexual assault case of 10-y-o girl
Latest News, News
Man arrested in sexual assault case of 10-y-o girl
September 26, 2026
CLARENDON, Jamaica— Detectives in Clarendon are set to question a man identified as a person of interest amid an investigation into the abduction and ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
NHF increases subsidies for four key diagnostic tests to drive early detection of NCDs islandwide
Latest News, News
NHF increases subsidies for four key diagnostic tests to drive early detection of NCDs islandwide
September 26, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The National Health Fund (NHF) has increased subsidies for four vital diagnostic and screening services, effective September 24. T...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Trump rejects Iran proposal for deal to reopen Hormuz
International News, Latest News
Trump rejects Iran proposal for deal to reopen Hormuz
September 26, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—United States (US) President Donald Trump on Saturday rejected a truce deal proposed by Iran that Tehran said could ha...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Mottley says national, regional responsibilities behind decision not to seek UN top job
International News, Latest News, Regional
Mottley says national, regional responsibilities behind decision not to seek UN top job
September 26, 2026
NEW YORK, United States (CMC) – Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley says her responsibilities to Barbados and the wider Caribbean are among the main r...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct