Five individuals, including two doctors and Matthew Perry's personal assistant, have been charged in connection with the actor's drug-related death last year, police revealed.
Authorities said their investigation, which began in May, uncovered an extensive criminal network involved in supplying large amounts of ketamine. Perry, 54, died in his Los Angeles home in October, with a post-mortem examination revealing a lethal level of ketamine in his system, which was deemed responsible for his death.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada stated that the defendants exploited Perry's addiction for financial gain, despite knowing the dangers their actions posed. Three of the accused, including Perry's assistant, have already pleaded guilty to drug charges. Two others, a doctor and a woman dubbed the “Ketamine Queen,” were arrested on Thursday.
Ketamine, a potent anaesthetic, is often used to treat depression, anxiety, and pain. Perry had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy, but his last session occurred over a week before his death. According to the medical examiner, the ketamine in his system was unrelated to his therapy, as the levels were far too high and indicative of amounts used in general anaesthesia.
The indictment filed in federal court describes a complex drug procurement scheme that ultimately led to Perry's death. Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, allegedly worked with two doctors to obtain over $50,000 worth of ketamine in the weeks preceding the actor's death. One of the doctors, Salvador Plasencia, reportedly mocked Perry in text messages while continuing to provide him with large quantities of the drug without proper medical oversight.
Prosecutors allege that Iwamasa administered at least 27 ketamine injections to Perry in the four days leading up to his death, despite warnings from Dr. Plasencia after a previous overdose incident. Others implicated in the case include Jasveen Sangha, the “Ketamine Queen,” who is accused of supplying the drug to Plasencia through the help of co-defendants Erik Fleming and Dr. Mark Chavez.
Chavez, Fleming, and Iwamasa have pleaded guilty, while Sangha and Plasencia pleaded not guilty during their court appearances on Thursday. Both are scheduled for trial in October.
Prosecutors also claim the defendants attempted to cover up their crimes after Perry’s death, with Sangha allegedly instructing a co-defendant to delete incriminating messages. Plasencia is accused of falsifying medical records to conceal his involvement.
Perry's death was officially ruled an accident, with drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine use also listed as contributing factors. Perry, best known for his role in the hit TV series *Friends*, had long battled addiction to painkillers and alcohol, a struggle he candidly recounted in his memoir, *Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing*.
