Five, including 2 doctors and 'ketamine queen', charged in connection with Matthew Perry's death

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Authorities have charged five individuals in connection with the death of 'Friends' star Matthew Perry who was found face down in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023.

The actor reportedly had ketamine in his system at the time of his death. The five defendants who face serious charges include two doctors, Matthew Perry’s personal assistant, and a woman known as the “Ketamine queen.”

Jasveen Sangha, known as the 'Ketamine Queen,' among those charged in Matthew Perry's death

The Department of Justice said in a press conference on Thursday morning, August 15, that an investigation revealed a “broad underground criminal network,” including Perry’s assistant and doctors, who “took advantage” of the actor by selling him ketamine.

The defendants in this case are identified as Jasveen Sangha, 41, also known as the “Ketamine Queen,” Dr Salvador Plasencia, 42, Dr Mark Chavez, 54, Eric Fleming, 54, (broker) and Kenneth Iwamasa, 59, his live-in assistant.

 

Plasencia and drug trafficker Jasveen Sangha worked together with doctor Chavez, Perry’s live-in assistant Iwamasa and a “broker”  Fleming to obtain ketamine and sell it to Perry.

Over a two-month period in the fall of 2023, they distributed approximately 20 vials of ketamine to Perry in exchange for $55,000 in cash, Variety reported. 

Dr Salvador Plasencia accused of injecting Matthew Perry with illegal ketamine

Dr Salvador Plasencia had sent an email asking, "I wonder how much this moron will pay [for the ketamine]," according to the attorney.

On one occasion, Plasencia injected Perry with illegal ketamine and watched the actor “freeze up and his blood pressure spike,” US Attorney Martin Estrada said during a news conference in Downtown, LA.

"Despite that, he left additional vials of ketamine for defendant Iwamasa to administer to Mr Perry," Estrada said.

Prosecutors also linked Sangha to the death of Cody McLaury, another individual who died from alleged ketamine overdose.

Despite being aware of McLaury’s death, Sangha allegedly continued to sell ketamine. She is facing additional charges in connection to McLaury’s death.

Matthew Perry’s assistant allegedly administered the fatal dose

Court documents reveal that Matthew Perry's assistant Iwamasa, who had no medical training, injected the actor with ketamine on multiple occasions, including the dose that led to his death.

Iwamasa, allegedly administered more than 20 shots of ketamine in the last four days of Perry’s life when he even knew he was spiraling out of control. 

Plasencia had also told another patient in October 2023, the month Perry died, that the actor “was spiraling out of control with his addiction,” according to Estrada.

“Nonetheless, [he] continued to offer ketamine to Mr Perry," Estrada said.

“These defendants cared more about profiting off of Mr Perry than caring for his well-being,” Estrada said during a news conference in downtown Los Angeles.

Code names and cover-ups: Defendants’ attempts to hide their actions to supply ketamine to Matthew Perry

Authorities have uncovered that the defendants tried to cover up their activities by using code words for ketamine, referring to it as "Dr Pepper," "cans," and "bots," TMZ reported.

After learning of Perry’s death, Sangha reportedly sent an alarm to Fleming to "delete all our messages."

According to court filings, Sangha’s home was described as a drug emporium, containing 80 vials of ketamine, thousands of meth pills, cocaine, Xanax, and other drug paraphernalia.

Erik Fleming, who delivered the ketamine from the stash house to Perry's assistant, allegedly included ketamine lollipops as an add-on for the large purchase.

Kenneth Iwamasa and Eric Fleming enter guilty plea for reduced sentence 

According to legal documents, Kenneth Iwamasa has entered a guilty plea for conspiracy to distribute ketamine, which resulted in death and serious bodily harm.

Eric Fleming, on the other hand, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death and serious bodily injury.

Iwamasa is facing up to 15 years in prison while Fleming is looking at up to 25 years behind bars.

However, in exchange for their plea agreements, prosecutors agreed to seek reduced sentences based on their cooperation with the investigation and their acknowledgment of responsibility.