Five arrests have been made in the investigation into Matthew Perry’s death, revealing a network of criminal activity.
Among those charged are Perry’s personal assistant and two physicians, all allegedly responsible for his accidental overdose.
Authorities believe the suspects exploited Perry’s well-known struggles with drug addiction. His transparency about his challenges, including in his memoir, aimed to help others. However, those involved in his death took advantage of his vulnerabilities.
During a news conference, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada emphasized the suspects’ awareness of their actions.
They knew what they were doing was wrong. The Department of Justice, DEA, U.S. Postal Service, and LAPD collaborated in the investigation, leading to the arrests.
Three defendants have already pleaded guilty to federal drug charges linked to Perry’s death. Two others, including a woman known as “The Ketamine Queen,” were arrested on Thursday. She is accused of selling Perry the ketamine that led to his demise.
The five charged include physicians Salvador Plascencia and Mark Chavez, drug dealer Jasveen Sangha, Perry’s personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, and Erik Fleming, an acquaintance of Perry. Each faces conspiracy to distribute ketamine charges, with potential sentences ranging from 10 years to life in prison.
Over two months in late 2023, this group allegedly distributed 20 vials of ketamine to Perry for $55,000 in cash.
Plascencia, who reportedly mocked Perry in a text, distributed the ketamine without a legitimate medical purpose. He even taught Iwamasa how to inject Perry with the drug.
Perry was undergoing ketamine therapy for anxiety and depression. However, the ketamine found in his system was unprescribed and at levels for anesthesia, raising suspicions. Plascencia could face up to 120 years in federal prison, while Iwamasa could receive a 15-year sentence.
DEA Administrator Anne Milgram criticized the doctors who saw Perry as a payday rather than a patient.
They exploited his desperation instead of offering help. Chavez faces up to 10 years in prison, while Fleming could receive up to 25 years. Sangha, with a history of drug trafficking, faces the harshest penalty—a potential life sentence.
Authorities discovered 79 vials of ketamine, methamphetamine pills, psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine, and prescription drugs at Sangha’s residence. The DEA, U.S. Postal Service, and LAPD executed search warrants, seizing electronic devices to trace the ketamine’s source.
Following their investigation, Los Angeles authorities made an arrest in connection with Perry’s overdose. NBC News reported that a person in Southern California was arrested on Thursday, with more details to be revealed at a news conference later that day.
On October 28, Perry was found face down in his hot tub by an assistant.
Paramedics declared him dead upon arrival. He was 54. The Los Angeles County medical examiner’s office later stated that Perry died from “acute effects of ketamine.” Drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine also contributed to his death.
Matthew Perry had a long history of drug and alcohol addiction, which he candidly discussed in his memoir. In a 2022 interview, Perry shared his desire to help others by writing about his experiences. He waited until he was safely sober to recount his journey.
The investigation uncovered text messages that detailed Perry’s illegal ketamine acquisition. Discussions about the price he would pay were included in these exchanges. As a result, authorities have arrested several dealers and a doctor involved in supplying the drug.