Five Charged in Connection with Matthew Perry's Drug-Related Death
Authorities have charged five individuals in connection with the drug-related death of actor Matthew Perry last year. Among those charged are two doctors and Perry’s personal assistant. The investigation, which began in May, uncovered a vast underground network involved in the illegal distribution of ketamine.
Matthew Perry, 54, passed away in October at his Los Angeles residence. A post-mortem revealed that a lethal concentration of ketamine, a powerful anesthetic, was present in his system. The coroner concluded that the “acute effects” of the drug were the direct cause of death.
On Thursday, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada condemned the actions of the defendants, stating, “These individuals exploited Mr. Perry’s struggles with addiction for their own gain, fully aware of the grave risk they posed to his life.”
Three of the accused, including Perry’s assistant, have already admitted guilt to drug charges. The remaining two suspects, a doctor and a woman identified as the “Ketamine Queen,” were apprehended on Thursday, according to the Department of Justice.
Ketamine, typically used in medical settings for depression, anxiety, and pain management, was being administered to Perry as part of a therapy regimen. However, his last treatment session occurred more than a week prior to his death. Given the drug’s short half-life, the medical examiner concluded that the ketamine found in Perry’s body was not linked to his therapy.
The indictment, filed in federal court, details the sophisticated drug-purchasing scheme that led to Perry’s untimely death. It alleges that Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, collaborated with two doctors to acquire over $50,000 worth of ketamine in the weeks leading up to the actor’s death.
Prosecutors argue that those involved sought to profit from Perry’s well-documented struggles with addiction. In one text message, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, one of the accused, allegedly referred to Perry disparagingly, saying, “I wonder how much this moron will pay.”
Dr. Plasencia is accused of providing Perry with ketamine “outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose.” The indictment also claims that he instructed Iwamasa on how to administer the drug to Perry, despite lacking proper safety protocols.
In the days leading up to Perry’s death, Iwamasa allegedly administered at least 27 injections of ketamine, despite warnings from Dr. Plasencia after an earlier large dose caused Perry to “freeze up.” Despite this, the doctor reportedly left additional vials of the drug with Perry and his assistant.
Other individuals charged in the case include Jasveen Sangha, dubbed the “Ketamine Queen,” who allegedly supplied the drug through the help of co-defendants Erik Fleming and Dr. Mark Chavez. Both Chavez and Fleming, along with Iwamasa, have entered guilty pleas.
Sangha and Plasencia, who both appeared in a Los Angeles court on Thursday, pleaded not guilty. Sangha remains in custody without bond, while Plasencia was released on a $100,000 bond. Both have tentative trial dates set for October.
Prosecutors allege that the defendants attempted to cover their tracks following Perry’s death. Sangha reportedly instructed another suspect to “delete all our messages,” while Plasencia is accused of falsifying medical records.
While ketamine was the primary cause of death, drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine—a medication used to treat opioid addiction—were also listed as contributing factors. Perry, who rose to fame as one of the stars of the hit NBC show Friends, had a long history of battling addiction. He chronicled his struggles in his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, revealing that he had been largely sober since 2001, aside from a few setbacks.
At the peak of his career, Perry was grappling with severe addiction to painkillers and alcohol, which led to multiple stints in rehab. In a 2016 interview with BBC Radio 2, Perry admitted that he had no memory of filming three years of Friends due to his substance abuse.
