Fact Check: "Plasencia texted a co-defendant, Mark Chavez, referring to Matthew Perry as a 'moron' and expressed a desire to exploit him for money."
What We Know
The claim centers around Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who has been charged in connection with the death of actor Matthew Perry from a ketamine overdose. According to court documents, Plasencia allegedly sent a text message to co-defendant Mark Chavez stating, “I wonder how much this moron will pay” for ketamine, indicating a willingness to exploit Perry financially due to his celebrity status and drug dependency (source-1, source-2). This text was part of a broader indictment that alleges Plasencia and others conspired to distribute ketamine to Perry, who had a documented history of substance abuse (source-3).
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim comes from multiple sources, including court documents and news reports detailing the charges against Plasencia. The text message in question is cited in various reports, including those from reputable news organizations such as NPR and BBC, which confirm the authenticity of the text and its implications (source-2, source-3).
The reliability of these sources is high, as they report on official court filings and statements from law enforcement officials. For instance, the U.S. Attorney's office and the DEA have publicly discussed the case, emphasizing the exploitative nature of the defendants' actions towards Perry (source-1).
Moreover, the context of the text message reflects a broader pattern of behavior among the defendants, who allegedly prioritized profit over Perry's health and well-being. The fact that Plasencia is expected to plead guilty to several counts of ketamine distribution further corroborates the seriousness of the allegations against him (source-4).
Conclusion
The claim that Dr. Plasencia referred to Matthew Perry as a "moron" in a text message to Mark Chavez and expressed a desire to exploit him financially is True. The evidence from court documents and multiple reliable news sources confirms the authenticity of the text message and the exploitative intentions behind it.
Sources
- Five Defendants, Including Two Doctors, Charged in Connection with Actor Matthew Perry’s Fatal Drug Overdose Last Year. Justice.gov
- Doctor who supplied ketamine to Matthew Perry will plead guilty. NPR
- California doctor to plead guilty to supplying Matthew Perry. BBC
- Doctor who supplied ketamine to Matthew Perry will plead guilty. KNBA
- Doctor who supplied ketamine to Matthew Perry and called him a 'moron'. Las Vegas Sun
- Matthew Perry's doctor pleads guilty to ketamine distribution. USA Today
- Doctor who supplied ketamine to Matthew Perry will plead guilty. PBS
- Matthew Perry Ketamine Case: Doctors Called Him "Moron" in Text Messages. E! Online
