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New York Post
Matthew Perry’s doctor knew star was ‘spiraling out of control with his addiction’ but still supplied him ketamine: feds
By Emily Crane,
19 hours ago
The alleged crooked doctor charged in connection to Matthew Perry’s death admitted he knew the “Friends” star was “spiraling” with his ketamine addiction around the time he overdosed — but still kept supplying the drug anyway, prosecutors say.
Salvador Plasencia, 42, was among the five people slapped with charges Thursday after he allegedly bilked thousands of dollars from Perry for vials of ketamine that he also helped inject in the weeks leading up to the beloved actor’s fatal overdose last October.
In the same month that the 54-year-old died, Plasencia — a Santa Monica-based doctor known as “Dr. P” — had allegedly revealed to another patient that Perry “was spiraling out of control with his addiction,” according to prosecutors.
“Nonetheless, [he] continued to offer ketamine to Mr. Perry,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said as he announced the sweeping charges.
Beloved “Friends” actor Matthew Perry died after overdosing on ketamine last October. Getty Images
While Plasencia had a license to prescribe and administer the powerful tranquilizer, prosecutors allege the doctor took the opportunity to cash in on the Hollywood star’s addiction.
In the two months leading up to Perry’s Oct. 28 death, prosecutors say Plasencia and another doctor — Mark Chavez — allegedly supplied the actor with about 20 vials of ketamine in exchange for around $55,000 in cash.
Doctor Salvador Plasencia, 42, was among the five people slapped with charges Thursday. Malibu Canyon Urgent Care
They allegedly had Perry shell out $2,000 for a $12 vial of the drug, according to court documents.
At one point, Plasencia allegedly texted Chavez to say, “I wonder how much this moron will pay.”
He also expressed a desire to become Perry’s “go-to” for drugs and allegedly instructed Perry’s longtime assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who is also charged in the case, on how to inject the drugs into his boss.
Plasencia, however, appeared to pull back just two weeks out from Perry’s death after the actor suffered an episode in which he seemed to “freeze up” after injecting him with a “large dose” of the drug, according to the filings.
“Let’s not do that again,” he allegedly told Iwamasa after the actor’s blood pressure skyrocketed.
In the two months leading up to Perry’s Oct. 28 death, prosecutors say Plasencia and another doctor — Mark Chavez — allegedly supplied the actor with about 20 vials of ketamine in exchange for around $55,000 in cash. US DOJ/Mega While Plasencia had a license to prescribe and administer the powerful tranquilizer, prosecutors allege the doctor took the opportunity to cash in on the Hollywood star’s addiction. US DOJ/Mega
At the time of his death, Perry had already been undergoing weeks of ketamine therapy for depression.
The actor had turned to Plasencia when the physicians at the clinic where he was being treated refused to increase his ketamine injections, prosecutors said.
In addition to Plasencia, the other doctor and Perry’s assistant, two alleged dealers — Erik Fleming and Jasveen Sangha — were also charged in connection to the A-lister’s overdose.
The “Ketamine Queen” Jasveen Sangha was among those charged in Perry’s death. Perry’s longtime assistant Kenneth Iwamasa was also charged. LinkedIn / Kenneth Iwamasa
Plasencia and Sangha are both charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.
Plasencia is also charged with seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of altering and falsifying documents or records related to a federal investigation.
Meanwhile, Fleming, Iwamasa and Chavez all copped deals in exchange for pleading guilty to various charges, including conspiracy to distribute ketamine and conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death.
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