5 people, including 2 doctors, charged in Matthew Perry's death probe
The United States Attorney's Office has announced that five people have been prosecuted in relation to the 2023 death of actor Matthew Perry.
The accusations, which were made public at a news conference in Los Angeles on Thursday morning, stem from the investigation's findings, which include the discovery of an underground network of drug suppliers and dealers who are allegedly in charge of supplying the lethal substance ketamine that killed Perry.
In connection with this death, three defendants—a doctor and the actor's assistant—have entered into plea deals for federal drug charges. Two other defendants, a second doctor and a woman dubbed "The Ketamine Queen," who is suspected of selling Perry the ketamine batch that killed him, were taken into custody on Thursday, the Department of Justice announced.
"These defendants took advantage of Mr. Perry's addiction issues to enrich themselves," US Attorney Martin said during a press briefing on Thursday. "They knew what they were doing was risking great danger to Mr. Perry, but they did it anyway."
Estrada stated that in the fall of 2023, Perry, who had previously fought with addiction, "fell back into addiction, and these defendants took advantage to profit for themselves."
The DOJ stated that the primary defendants in the case are Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 42, a licensed physician known as "Dr. P," and Jasveen Sangha, 41, a.k.a. "The Ketamine Queen." They are scheduled to be arraigned later on Thursday.
Three more people have been charged separately in this case: Dr. Mark Chavez, 54, a licensed physician who acknowledged selling Plasencia ketamine; Eric Fleming, 54, who acknowledged in court documents that he distributed the ketamine that killed Perry; and Kenneth Iwamasa, 59, Perry's live-in assistant, who admitted to administering the ketamine on the day that Perry died, according to the DOJ.
Perry received "approximately 20 vials of Ketamine," according to Estrada, during the course of two months in September and October 2023, at a cost of about $55,000.
Perry's death was caused by ketamine, according to messages the defendants exchanged shortly after, according to the prosecutor. Strong anesthetic ketamine, which is occasionally used to treat depression and chronic pain, was supplied to Perry, although Estrada said they attempted to hide their involvement.
When the 54-year-old's system had so much surgical anesthesia, Los Angeles police said in May that they were conducting an investigation into the matter in collaboration with the US Drug Enforcement Administration and the US Postal Inspection Service.
In the indictment, it is stated that the defendants distributed their drugs through coded language and encrypted texting, referring to ketamine as "Dr. Pepper".
Although the indictment claims that Perry first obtained his ketamine supply from the two doctors, a government source stated that at some time Perry changed suppliers, possibly Sangha, because federal officials thought the medicines were too costly.
According to Estrada, ketamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, scales, and ledgers were among the "drug-selling emporium" found in Sangha's home after Perry passed away.
54-year-old Perry passed away on October 28, 2023. Police in Los Angeles claimed he was found unconscious in a jacuzzi at his house. His death from the acute effects of ketamine was documented in the autopsy report.
The DEA, the Los Angeles Police Department, the US Postal Service, and the U.S. Attorney's Office are among the several organizations that have conducted investigations in the months following his passing.
On the popular sitcom "Friends," which aired from 1994 to 2004, Perry was well-known for portraying Chandler Bing.
The actor's family, including his mother, Suzanne Morrison, and stepfather, Keith Morrison, said in a statement Thursday that they are "heartbroken by Matthew's death, but it has helped to know that law enforcement has taken his case very seriously." We look forward to justice taking its course."
