Charges against five in Matthew Perry's death; ketamine overdose investigation

Federal authorities in Los Angeles on Aug 15 announced charges against five individuals in connection with the death of actor Matthew Perry from ketamine last year. The charges stem from Perry's fatal overdose, which occurred on October 28, 2023, when he was found unresponsive in a jacuzzi at his Los Angeles residence. An autopsy confirmed that Perry's death was due to the acute effects of ketamine.

Among those charged are two doctors, Dr. Salvador Plasencia and Dr. Mark Chavez, along with Perry’s live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, and two other individuals—Eric Fleming and Jasveen Sangha.

Sangha, who is infamously known as "The Ketamine Queen," is accused of selling the batch of ketamine that led to Perry's death. The charges include federal drug offenses and conspiracy to distribute ketamine.

Following Perry’s death, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada revealed that an extensive investigation uncovered a significant underground network involved in the illegal distribution of ketamine. This network is believed to have provided Perry and others with substantial amounts of the drug.

"These defendants took advantage of Mr. Perry's addiction issues to enrich themselves. They knew what they were doing was risking great danger to Mr. Perry, but they did it anyway," Estrada said.

“Plasencia allegedly worked with Chavez to obtain ketamine and with Iwamasa to distribute that ketamine to Perry. Over two months, they distributed approximately 20 vials of ketamine to Perry in exchange for $55,000 in cash,” Estrada added.

Dr. Salvador Plasencia and Jasveen Sangha are identified as the primary defendants in this case. Plasencia, a licensed physician, is accused of working with Dr. Mark Chavez to procure ketamine and with Iwamasa to distribute it to Perry.

Over a period of two months, they allegedly supplied Perry with around 20 vials of ketamine in exchange for $55,000 in cash. Despite the vials costing the doctors $12 each, they were sold to Perry for $2,000 per vial.

Plasencia has pleaded not guilty and has been granted release on a $100,000 bond. He is required to surrender his passport and post a notice at his clinic about the federal case. His next court date is set for October 8.

Sangha, who is also accused of distributing ketamine to Perry, appeared in court on August 15 and pleaded not guilty.

Initially released on bond in March, her bond was revoked by Judge Alka Sagar, who remanded her to custody based on evidence suggesting she was heavily involved in drug trafficking and had substantial financial means derived from these activities. Sangha's next court hearing is scheduled for October 15.

The investigation revealed that Sangha sold Perry approximately 50 vials of ketamine for about $11,000 over two weeks, working with Fleming and Iwamasa to facilitate the drug’s distribution. She is alleged to have sold Perry the batch of ketamine responsible for his death.

The indictment against Plasencia and Sangha includes charges of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of the drug. Plasencia faces seven counts of ketamine distribution and two counts of document falsification related to the investigation.

If convicted, he could face up to 120 years in federal prison, while Sangha faces a potential life sentence.

In addition to Plasencia and Sangha, three other individuals have reached plea agreements. Dr. Mark Chavez has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy charges, acknowledging his role in selling ketamine to Plasencia.

He is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug 30 and could face up to 10 years in prison. Eric Fleming and Kenneth Iwamasa have both signed plea agreements, with Fleming admitting to distributing the ketamine that led to Perry’s death and Iwamasa acknowledging his role in administering the drug. Fleming faces up to 25 years in prison, while Iwamasa faces up to 15 years.

Iwamasa’s plea agreement provides details of Perry's final hours. It describes how Iwamasa injected Perry with ketamine multiple times on the day of his death, including a final dose while Perry was preparing to use the jacuzzi.

Iwamasa found Perry deceased upon returning to the residence after running errands.

The autopsy report confirmed high levels of ketamine in Perry's blood, suggesting he lost consciousness and drowned. While Perry had received ketamine infusions for depression and anxiety, the report revealed that the ketamine in his system at the time of death could not have been from recent therapy, as the drug's effects typically last only a few hours.

The report also noted other contributing factors, including drowning, coronary artery disease, and effects from buprenorphine, and ruled the death an accident. No prescription drugs or loose pills were found near Perry’s body.

The investigation into Perry's death involved multiple agencies, including the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Los Angeles Police Department, U.S. Postal Service, and U.S. Attorney's Office. Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the television show "Friends," was 54 years old at the time of his death.

Perry's family, including his mother Suzanne Morrison and stepfather Keith Morrison, expressed their grief and support for the legal process in a statement. They emphasized their heartbreak over Perry's death but took solace in knowing that law enforcement is taking serious measures to seek justice.