A total of five people have been arrested and charged over the death of Matthew Perry.
US attorney Martin Estrada said that the five “took advantage of Mr. Perry’s addiction issues to enrich themselves” and are accused of procuring for and administering thousands of dollars worth of ketamine to Perry. The suspects include the late actor’s live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, and doctors Jasveen Sangha, dubbed “The Ketamine Queen,” and Salvador Plasencia, known with the nickname “Dr. P.” A doctor named Mark Chavez and a supposed acquaintance of Perry’s named Erik Fleming were also charged.
Iwamasa has reportedly been charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine, while Sangha and Plasencia were charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine, distribution of ketamine resulting in death, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and altering and falsifying records related to a federal investigation.
Court documents included text messages between Plasencia and Chavez which highlighted their plan to get ketamine to sell to Perry, who they referred to as “victim MP.” One of the texts from Plasencia read, “I wonder how much this moron will pay” and “let’s find out.”
The DEA and Los Angeles Police Department launched an investigation into Perry’s death after a toxicology report revealed that he died from “acute effects of ketamine.” While the autopsy confirmed that the actor was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy to battle his anxiety and depression, authorities were looking into how he got his hands on potentially lethal doses and whether or not it was obtained legally.
“That investigation has revealed a broad underground criminal network responsible for distributing large quantities of ketamine to Mr Perry and others,” Estrada said. “They knew what they were doing was wrong. They knew what they were doing was risking great danger to Mr Perry, but they did it anyways. In the end, these defendants were more interested in profiting off Mr Perry than caring for his wellbeing.”
