DR. SALVADOR Plasencia – who has been charged in the drug death of Friends actor Matthew Perry – is still running his clinic after renewing his medical license, The U.S. Sun can exclusively reveal.
Exclusive photographs of Plasencia show him leaving his Malibu Urgent Care center this month just weeks after his blockbuster trial was pushed back.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia is seen at his clinic in Calabasas ahead of his trial in August[/caption]
The urgent care where Dr. Salvador Plasencia works[/caption]
Matthew Perry attends the 2022 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York[/caption]
Plasencia, who is facing a maximum of 120 years in prison, seemed to be going about life as normal as he was seen opening the back door to the clinic and heading to his car.
He is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, seven counts of distribution of ketamine, and two counts of altering and falsifying documents or records related to the federal investigation into Perry’s death.
The doctor pleaded not guilty to the charges last August and was released on a $100,000 bond.
Documents filed with the Medical Board of California show he is listed as a physician and surgeon and has renewed his license since the arrest, which now expires on October 31, 2026.
However, a court order is in place and limitations have been placed on his practice.
The order requires Plasencia to place a disclaimer on the clinic’s door outlining the case, which was seen displayed in photographs obtained by The U.S. Sun.
Patients must also sign a form acknowledging they know the case is pending.
Both the notice and the form must state that Plasencia has surrendered his DEA registration and is not able to prescribe any controlled substances.
BACK TO BUSINESS
Photographs show him dressed in smart casual attire in a gray short-sleeved shirt over a black t-shirt and jeans with blue sneakers.
He later returned to the clinic hours after it had closed and was wearing a blue baseball cap.
Placencia, 43, carried a black backpack and was seen holding a large bottle of juice and a stack of letters as he made his way back into the building.
The doctor was at the clinic for most of the day and had a female receptionist working for him, according to an eyewitness.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges Plasencia and four other defendants took advantage of Perry’s addiction as they sold and administered ketamine.
Dr. Mark Chavez, a drug-middleman Erik Fleming, and Perry’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, have all admitted their role in the tragedy.
Chavez has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, while Fleming has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death.
Iwamasa has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death.
The three were granted bail and will appear in court for sentencing in the coming months.
Jasveen Sangha, who police claim was nicknamed “The Ketamine Queen of North Hollywood,” and Plasencia have pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia was seen wearing a shirt and jeans near his clinic[/caption]
Placencia has pleaded not guilty to charges relating to Matthew Perry’s death[/caption]
Sangha is also additionally charged with one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute ketamine, and five counts of distribution of ketamine.
Sangha and Plasencia were set to appear at a joint trial beginning next month, but it has now been pushed to August.
Perry, 54, died in October 2023 from “acute effects of ketamine” and subsequent drowning, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office autopsy report.
His death was ultimately ruled an accident, including other contributing factors such as drowning, cardiovascular overstimulation, and respiratory depression caused by ketamine.
He was declared dead after his assistant, Iwamasa, found him unconscious in his hot tub at his home in the Pacific Palisades.
The full story of Perry’s death and the five arrested is the subject of the new Peacock documentary, Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy, featuring The U.S. Sun’s assistant editor of exclusives, Katy Forrester.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada previously revealed Plasencia allegedly write in a text message to Dr. Chavez in September 2023, “I wonder how much this moron will pay.”
The doctor’s lawyer previously spoke about his arrest and how he plans to fight the charges.
“At the end of the day, Dr. Plasencia was providing medical treatment to Mr. Perry,” attorney Stefan Sacks told ABC affiliate WABC-TV.
“He was operating in good faith under what he believed was his duty and whether or not there was a lapse in judgment in retrospect, it doesn’t negate the fact that he was pursuing this with the best of medical intentions.”
Plasencia’s lawyer also said the doctor may still see patients both in person and via tele-health, “depending on what the patient actually needs.”
Five charged in Matthew Perry’s death
On August 15, prosecutors announced a slew of charges stemming from the tragic overdose death of Friends star Matthew Perry.
Here are the five individuals allegedly behind Perry’s ketamine crisis.
- “Ketamine Queen of Los Angeles” Jasveen Sangha – Sangha is a 41-year-old drug dealer who allegedly helped sell the ketamine that killed Perry, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office. In 2019, Sangha sold ketamine to another victim hours before he died, prosecutors say. After hearing of his death, she allegedly searched “can ketamine be listed as a cause of death,” on Google. She faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of all charges.
- “Dr. P” Dr. Salvador Plasencia – Plasencia, 42, allegedly learned that Perry was seeking ketamine, and obtained doses from a dirty doctor. Speaking to the doctor over text, he allegedly said, “I wonder how much this moron will pay.” Plasencia taught unlicensed people associated with Perry how to inject ketamine, and even personally injected it at times, prosecutors say. Perry’s assistant, who was taught by Plasencia, administered the fatal dose on October 28, 2023. Plasencia is facing nine charges stemming from the death.
- Kenneth Iwamasa – Iwamasa, 59, was Perry’s live-in assistant who was allegedly taught how to inject ketamine by Dr. Plasencia, according to prosecutors. He also corresponded with dealers to organize the sale and delivery of the drug. He admitted to injecting Perry multiple times on the day of his death in a guilty plea.
- Eric Fleming – Fleming, 54, is a dealer who helped to coordinate drug sales to Sangha before they ultimately made it to Perry. He corresponded with Iwamasa when ketamine was on its way to their home. Fleming admitted to distributing 50 vials of ketamine to Iwamasa, half of them four days before Perry’s death.
- Dr. Mark Chavez – Chavez admitted to selling ketamine to Dr. Plasencia by writing fraudulent prescriptions. He also coordinated with Iwamasa to get the drugs to Perry. Between September and October 2023, Plasencia, Chavez, and Iwamasa allegedly distributed approximately 20 vials of ketamine to Perry for $55,000 in cash.
Plasencia graduated from medical school at the University of California in 2010 and has not been subject to any disciplinary actions, records show.
The Medical Board of California previously told CNN both Placencia and Chavez are under investigation by the board.
Meanwhile, Placencia is believed to be legally married, although it is not known if the couple is still together or has any children.
Documents show the pair still own a home in Agoura Hills that they bought in May 2021 for $920,000.
It was put up for rent for $5,200 a month last October and the listing is no longer live.
The couple also owns a $300,000 single-level four-bedroom property in Arizona which was bought in 2020 and has not been listed for sale since.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia is pictured returning to his practice after it had closed carrying juice and a stack of letters[/caption]
Dr. Mark Chavez agreed to plead guilty to a series of drug charges[/caption]
Accused drug dealer Jasveen Sangha dubbed the ‘Ketamine Queen’ was arrested in connection with the fatal overdose of actor Matthew Perry[/caption]
