Five individuals, including actor Matthew Perry’s personal assistant and two doctors, have been arrested and charged in connection with Perry's death, according to prosecutors. The charges stem from allegations that the doctors provided Perry with excessive amounts of ketamine, exploiting his addiction issues for financial gain.
Matthew Perry, widely known for his role in the TV show "Friends," died at his Los Angeles home in October 2023 at the age of 54. Perry had publicly spoken about his struggles with addiction and was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy for anxiety and depression at the time of his death. An autopsy revealed significantly higher levels of ketamine in his bloodstream than expected from therapeutic use alone.
US Attorney Martin Estrada announced the arrests and charges, stating that the investigation uncovered an underground network responsible for distributing large quantities of ketamine to Perry and others. “This network included a live-in assistant, various go-betweens, two medical doctors, and a major source of drug supply known as ‘the Ketamine Queen,’” Estrada said.
The individuals charged include Jasveen Sangha, also known as “the Ketamine Queen,” and Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who is referred to as “Dr. P.” Both are charged with 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. Perry’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, is charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Additionally, Dr. Mark Chavez and Erik Fleming, an acquaintance of Perry, were also charged.
Court documents revealed incriminating text messages between Plasencia and Chavez, discussing their plans to sell ketamine to Perry. In one exchange, Plasencia referred to Perry as a “moron” and speculated on how much money they could make from him.
Matthew Perry was found dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home in October 2023. The Los Angeles medical examiner’s office determined the cause of death to be “the acute effects of ketamine,” with contributing factors including drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder. The autopsy report indicated that the levels of ketamine in Perry’s blood were comparable to those used during general anesthesia, leading to fatal cardiovascular and respiratory effects. Perry’s death was ruled an accident with no evidence of foul play.
Perry had frequently spoken about his history with substance abuse, which began at age 14 and intensified during his time on "Friends." His untimely death has prompted an outpouring of tributes, highlighting his impact as a comedic actor and the struggles he faced with addiction.
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