The Los Angeles doctor who supplied ketamine to "Friends" actor Matthew Perry before his fatal overdose in 2023 has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison.

The physician, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who surrendered his medical license, pleaded guilty in July to four counts of illegal distribution of the prescription anesthetic ketamine in connection with the actor's death at age 54. The former operator of an urgent care clinic in Calabasas, California, is one of five people to plead guilty in the case, but the first to be sentenced.

As the sentencing was read in Los Angeles federal court, Plasencia said there is no excuse and faced Perry's family as he told them, "I'm just so sorry," according to the New York Times and Variety.

Plasencia's attorneys said their client accepted the decision with "humility and deep remorse," per a statement to USA TODAY following the Dec. 3 sentencing.

Matthew Perry ketamine doctor is 'not a villain,' Dr. Plasencia's legal team says

"The mistakes he made over the 13 days during which he treated Mr. Perry will stay with him forever," the statement continued. "Mr. Plasencia voluntarily gave up his medical license. He will now continue to serve his community in other meaningful ways. He hopes that this painful experience will help other doctors avoid similar mistakes and prevent other families from enduring a tragedy like this one."

The statement referred to Plasencia as a "compassionate, caring, and conscientious doctor whose clinic filled a void in a community that needed him."

"He was a good doctor loved by those he treated. He is not a villain," Plasencia's attorneys said. "He is someone who made serious mistakes in his treatment decisions involving the off-label use of ketamine - a drug commonly used for depression that does not have uniform standards."

Matthew Perry's mother addresses Dr. Plasencia in court

According to NYT and Variety, Perry's mother, Suzanne Morrison, addressed Plasencia in court, asking him whether he had children, to which he nodded. "This is my boy!" Morrison said. "To be called a 'moron,' there is nothing moronic about this man. He even knew how to be a successful drug dealer."

"I want you to see his mother," she told Plasencia. "This was a bad thing you did."

The actor's half-sister, Madeline Morrison, condemned Plasencia for exploiting Perry’s greatest fear and biggest weakness, saying, "Celebrities are not just plastic dolls you can take advantage of. They’re people."

How and when did Matthew Perry die?

Perry died on Oct. 28, 2023, after he was found unresponsive and face-down in the "heated end" of his pool at his Pacific Palisades home, according to his autopsy.

The actor known for his breakthrough role of Chandler Bing on the classic sitcom died due to "the acute effects of ketamine," the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner confirmed.

In a statement, the medical examiner's office stated the manner of his death was an accident and that contributing factors included "drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine."

5 people have pleaded guilty in Matthew Perry's death

Among the other defendants in Perry's case is Jasveen Sangha, who prosecutors described as "the Ketamine Queen" of North Hollywood and allege she supplied the actor with the ketamine that killed him. She'd previously pleaded not guilty to all charges against her, with Geragos maintaining her innocence in a Peacock documentary special that was released in February.

She is set to be sentenced next week on Dec. 10 and faces up to 65 years in prison.

Film producer Erik Fleming, who said he'd distributed Sangha's ketamine that killed Perry, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death.

He is slated to appear in court for sentencing on Jan. 7 and faces up to 25 years in prison.

Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry's live-in assistant, purchased at least $55,000 worth of ketamine for the actor, prosecutors said. The 60-year-old agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and will be sentenced Jan. 14.

Prosecutors say he faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.

Dr. Mark Chavez pleaded guilty in October to one count of conspiracy to distribute the dissociative anesthetic drug ketamine.

He is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 17 and faces up to 10 years in prison.

Contributing: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Doctor who sold 'Friends' actor Matthew Perry ketamine is sentenced to prison

Reporting by Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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