Doctor charged in Matthew Perry death case called actor a ‘moron’ in text message revealed by prosecutors

A doctor charged in connection with Matthew Perry’s death called the actor a ‘moron’ in a text message revealed by prosecutors.

Five people have been charged in connection with the star’s death last year.

The Friends actor was found ‘unconscious in a stand-alone’ jacuzzi as his Los Angeles home on 28 October.

Perry’s death was originally reported as ‘accidental’, with an autopsy determining his death had a combined cause of drowning and ketamine use.

It was recently announced that the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) had been working with federal authorities on a criminal investigation into the 54-year-old’s death.

Perry had reportedly been receiving ketamine infusion therapy for anxiety and depression, but the medical examiner said the ketamine in his system ‘could not be from that’ as his last session took place over a week before.

The actor died in October last year. (Angela Weiss/Getty Images)

At a press conference yesterday (15 August), it was announced Dr. Salvador Plasencia was one of those charged in connection with the actor’s death.

Nicknamed ‘Dr. P’ of Santa Monica, 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.

Plasencia pleaded not guilty in his first court appearance yesterday (15 August).

An indictment filed on Wednesday alleges he used encrypted messaging apps and coded language to discuss drug deals as he referred to bottles of ketamine as ‘Dr. Pepper’, ‘cans’ and ‘bots’.

According to this, the doctor learned that Perry was interested in obtaining ketamine back in September. He then contacted Dr Mark Chavez, who previously ran a ketamine clinic, to obtain some to sell to the actor.

Perry was well known for playing Chandler in Friends. (Reisig & Taylor/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)

Chavez has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.

A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office explains that Plasencia said to the physician in a text: “I wonder how much this moron will pay,” later adding: “Let’s [sic] find out.”

If convicted of all charges, 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.

“These defendants cared more about profiting off of Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “Drug dealers selling dangerous substances are gambling with other people’s lives over greed.

"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.”