Indictment in the Perry case

Top line:

Who is accused: The defendants were arrested on Thursday and charged in an 18-count indictment, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles. The main defendants are:

• Jasveen Sangha, 41, known as “The Ketamine Queen,” of North Hollywood
• Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 42, known as “Dr. P” from Santa Monica

Both are accused of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, a narcotic, among other things. Sangha was also charged with operating a drug depot, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of ketamine with intent to distribute, and distribution of ketamine.

Statement from the US Attorney: “The defendants knew that their conduct was wrong … and that it posed a grave danger to Mr. Perry,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said at a news conference.

Five people will face federal charges in connection with the death of actor Matthew Perry, who died of a ketamine overdose last year, authorities in Los Angeles said Thursday.

The five defendants include two doctors and Perry's personal assistant, who lives with him. Authorities say they illegally supplied the drug to profit from the actor, whose struggle with addiction was well known.

“The defendants knew that their conduct was wrong … and that it posed a grave danger to Mr. Perry,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said at a news conference.

The defendants and the prosecution

The defendants were arrested on Thursday and charged in an 18-count indictment, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The main defendants are:

• Jasveen Sangha, 41, known as “The Ketamine Queen,” of North Hollywood
• Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 42, known as “Dr. P” from Santa Monica

Both are charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine, a narcotic, among other things. Sangha was also charged with operating a drug depot, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of ketamine with intent to distribute, and distribution of ketamine.

Arraignment against them is expected on Thursday in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles. If convicted, Sangha faces a life sentence. Plasencia faces a maximum of 120 years.

Other defendants charged include Eric Fleming, 54, of Hawthorne, Kenneth Iwamasa, 59, of Toluca Lake, and Dr. Mark Chavez, 54, of San Diego.

The background story

After Perry’s death in October, the LA County Coroner determined that the cause of death was “acute effects of ketamine.” The autopsy report found that Perry had received ketamine infusion therapy less than two weeks before his death. However, the medical examiner determined that the “high levels” in his body at the time of death could not have come from those treatments.

Other factors cited included drowning, coronary heart disease and the effects of buprenorphine, which is used to treat opioid addiction. The medical examiner concluded that Perry's death was accidental.

Fee details

According to the indictment, Plasencia learned of Perry's interest in ketamine and contacted Chavez, who had previously operated a ketamine clinic. Federal authorities said Plasencia planned to obtain the drug to sell it to the actor for a profit.

Plasencia sent text messages to Chavez discussing how much to charge Perry for the drugs, federal authorities said. One of those messages read, “I wonder how much this idiot is going to pay” and “Let's [sic] find out.”

In September and October of last year, Plasencia supplied the ketamine to Perry and Iwamasa and taught the latter how to inject Perry with ketamine, federal authorities said. Plasencia is also accused of leaving vials of ketamine with Iwamasa, personally injecting Perry with ketamine without proper safety equipment – including once in a Long Beach parking lot – and failing to supervise Perry after injecting him with the drug.