Five individuals, including Matthew Perry’s personal assistant and two doctors, have been arrested and charged in relation to the actor’s death, according to prosecutors.
The doctors are accused of providing the Friends star with a significant amount of ketamine, U.S. attorney Martin Estrada stated. Estrada claimed that they exploited Perry’s struggles with addiction for their own financial gain.
Matthew Perry, who passed away at 54 in his Los Angeles home in October 2023, had been open about his battles with addiction. At the time of his death, he was receiving ketamine infusion therapy for anxiety and depression. However, the Los Angeles medical examiner’s autopsy revealed much higher levels of ketamine in his system than what would typically result from the therapy.
In May, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration launched a joint investigation into how Perry obtained the prescription drugs and why such large amounts were found in his system.
Estrada revealed that the investigation uncovered a large underground network responsible for supplying ketamine to Perry and others. This network included a live-in assistant, intermediaries, two medical doctors, and a primary supplier known as “the Ketamine Queen.”
Five individuals have been charged as a result of the investigation. Estrada stated that these defendants were aware of the risks their actions posed to Perry but proceeded anyway, prioritizing profit over his well-being.
Federal court documents in California, as reported by the New York Times, accuse these five individuals, including Perry’s personal assistant, of being part of a scheme to obtain and administer thousands of dollars worth of ketamine to Perry.
Among those indicted are Jasveen Sangha, dubbed “the Ketamine Queen,” and Dr. Salvador Plasencia, known as “Dr. P.” They face charges including conspiracy to distribute ketamine, distribution of ketamine resulting in death, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and altering and falsifying records related to a federal investigation.
Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s personal assistant, has been charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Mark Chavez, another doctor, and Erik Fleming, an acquaintance of Perry, also face charges.
The court documents revealed text messages exchanged between Plasencia and Chavez, where they discussed selling ketamine to “victim MP” – Matthew Perry. In one exchange, Plasencia reportedly wrote, “I wonder how much this moron will pay,” followed by, “let’s find out.”
Matthew Perry was discovered deceased in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home in October 2023. The Los Angeles medical examiner’s office determined that his death was caused by “the acute effects of ketamine.” Contributing factors included drowning, coronary artery disease, and the presence of buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder.
The autopsy found that the levels of ketamine in Perry’s blood were comparable to those used in general anesthesia, leading to lethal cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression. His death was ruled an accident, with no indication of foul play.
Perry had openly discussed his long history with substance abuse, which began when he was 14 years old and intensified during his time on Friends.
