Five Charged in Actor Matthew Perry's Ketamine Death

Two doctors and three others, including Matthew Perry's personal assistant, have been charged in connection with supplying the "Friends" star with ketamine, leading to his fatal overdose in October 2023. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada announced that the defendants were part of a criminal network distributing the powerful sedative to Perry and others.

Jasveen Sangha, known as the "Ketamine Queen," and Dr. Salvador Plasencia have been arrested. Sangha allegedly sold the fatal doses from her North Hollywood "stash house." Dr. Plasencia is accused of distributing ketamine to Perry and his assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, without legitimate medical purpose on at least seven occasions.

Iwamasa, who lived with Perry, admitted to repeatedly injecting the actor with ketamine, including on the day of his death. He has pleaded guilty to one criminal count. Dr. Plasencia allegedly taught Iwamasa how to inject Perry and personally administered the drug without proper safety equipment.

Dr. Mark Chavez reportedly supplied ketamine to Dr. Plasencia. Text messages reveal discussions about charging Perry for the drug. Eric Fleming admitted to obtaining ketamine from Sangha and distributing 50 vials to Iwamasa. He has pleaded guilty to two criminal counts.

Perry's autopsy report attributed his death at 54 to the "acute effects" of ketamine and other factors, causing him to lose consciousness and drown in his hot tub. Toxicology tests revealed dangerously high levels of ketamine in Perry's body, comparable to those found in general anesthesia patients.

The actor had publicly acknowledged his struggles with drug and alcohol abuse throughout his career.

The charges represent a significant step in the investigation of Perry's death and may lead to further scrutiny of similar networks in the entertainment industry and beyond. It underscores the dangers of drug misuse and the importance of proper medical oversight in using powerful sedatives like ketamine.