By Lookout Staff

August 15, 2024 -- A Santa Monica doctor was arrested Thursday in connection with the death of actor Mathew Perry, who suffered a fatal ketamine overdose in October, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 42, a.k.a. “Dr. P,” was charged with distributing ketamine to Perry during the final weeks of his life, according to court documents unsealed Thursday.

Plasencia was one of five defendants indicted in Perry's death, including Jasveen Sangha, 41, a.k.a. “The Ketamine Queen,” of North Hollywood, who also was arrested Thursday.

In the 18-count superseding indictment Plasencia is charged with seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of "altering and falsifying documents or records related to the federal investigation."

The indictment alleges that Sangha’s distribution of ketamine on October 24, 2023, caused Perry’s death.

“These defendants cared more about profiting off of Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada.

“Drug dealers selling dangerous substances are gambling with other people’s lives over greed," Estrada said.

"This case, along with our many other prosecutions of drug-dealers who cause death, send a clear message that we will hold drug-dealers accountable for the deaths they cause.”

According to the superseding indictment, Plasencia learned in late September that Perry, a successful actor with a well-documented history of drug addiction, was interested in obtaining ketamine.

Justice Department officials noted that Ketamine, a general anesthetic, poses medical risks that require a health care professional to monitor a patient who has just been given the drug.

After learning about Perry’s interest in ketamine, Plasencia contacted Dr. Mark Chavez, 54, of San Diego, who previously operated a ketamine clinic to obtain the drug to sell to Perry.

In text messages, Plasencia discussed with Chavez how much to charge Perry, stating, “I wonder how much this moron will pay” and “Lets [sic] find out.”

The indictment also alleges that Plasencia "conspired with Chavez about inventory, price, and availability of ketamine" to sell to Perry and Kenneth Iwamasa, 59, of Toluca Lake, a co-defendent in the case.

During September and October, Plasencia distributed ketamine to Perry and Iwamasa "outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose on at least seven occasions," according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

"He did so by teaching Iwamasa how to inject Perry with ketamine, selling ketamine to Iwamasa to inject into Perry (and) leaving vials of ketamine with Iwamasa for self-administration," officials said.

"Plasencia knew that Iwamasa had never received medical training and knew little, if anything, about administering or treating patients with controlled substances."

According to officials, "Plasencia sold the ketamine to Iwamasa despite being informed at least one week earlier that Perry’s ketamine addiction was spiraling out of control."

In February and March, Plasencia responded to a legal request to produce documents connected with the federal investigation by providing "altered and falsified medical records."

The records he provided purported to show that "he had a legitimate 'treatment plan' in place for Perry, with the intent to influence the investigation into Perry’s death," officials said.

If convicted, Plasencia would face up to 10 years in federal prison for each ketamine-related count and up to 20 years in federal prison for each records falsification count.