The tragic death of beloved actor Matthew Perry has sent shockwaves through Hollywood and beyond. California’s Department of Justice recently charged five individuals in connection to Perry’s death, including a former movie director, two doctors, his live-in assistant, and a drug dealer known as the “Ketamine Queen” of North Hollywood.
Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit TV show “Friends,” was found unresponsive in a jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed that he died from the acute effects of ketamine, a powerful dissociative anesthetic with hallucinogenic properties. The autopsy revealed that contributing factors to his death included drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine. No pills, drugs, or medications were found near the pool where Perry was discovered.
At a press conference, Martin Estrada, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, announced charges against the defendants, stating that they knew what they were doing was wrong and tried to cover up their actions. He emphasized that the defendants prioritized profiting off Perry over his well-being and warned others against engaging in similar behavior.
The co-conspirators allegedly used encrypted messaging applications and coded language to discuss drug deals, often referring to bottles of ketamine as “Dr. Pepper,” “cans,” and “bots.”
The Department of Justice has filed 18 criminal counts against physician Salvador Plasencia and Jasveen Sangha for allegedly distributing ketamine to Perry in the final weeks of his life. Three other defendants, including Perry’s live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, Dr. Mark Chavez, and movie producer Eric Fleming, were listed as co-conspirators who pleaded guilty.
Sangha, referred to as “The Ketamine Queen” of North Hollywood, allegedly used her home to store and distribute narcotics like ketamine and methamphetamine. She and Fleming are accused of selling the ketamine that Perry consumed. After Perry’s death, Sangha allegedly instructed Fleming to delete their messages and changed the app settings to automatically delete their conversations. Law enforcement later found around 79 vials of ketamine at Sangha’s residence.
Plasencia, known as “Dr. P,” was a licensed medical doctor in California who allegedly distributed ketamine without a legitimate medical purpose. He ordered 10 vials of ketamine for Perry despite expressing concerns about the actor’s addiction. Fleming, a former Hollywood movie director, purchased a ketamine sample from Sangha’s stash house and pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution resulting in death.
Chavez, a California-licensed medical doctor, allegedly sold ketamine to Plasencia and wrote a fraudulent prescription for an unnamed victim without their consent. He has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and faces up to 10 years in prison.
Iwamasa, Perry’s live-in assistant, injected Perry with ketamine doses obtained from Fleming and Sangha. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and faces up to 15 years in prison.
The tragic death of Matthew Perry has shed light on the dangers of drug abuse and the importance of responsible medical practices. The charges filed against the defendants serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of illicit drug distribution and the need for accountability in the healthcare industry.
