How prosecutors say suspects in Matthew Perry's death took advantage of him

CNN
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A group of people close to Matthew Perry – including doctors and North Hollywood's alleged “ketamine queen” – took advantage of his vulnerability as a recovering addict and supplied the popular actor with the drug that would ultimately kill him, prosecutors say.

Now five people are facing charges in connection with Perry's death.

Perry, who starred as Chandler Bing on “Friends,” died last October at age 54. His body was found floating facedown in a freestanding hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home. According to an autopsy report, he died of “acute effects of ketamine” and subsequent drowning.

Perry detailed his decades-long struggle with drug addiction in his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.” He wrote that he began abusing prescription drugs after he was involved in a jet ski accident on the set of the 1997 film “Fools Rush In” and was prescribed Vicodin.

Investigators believe Perry “relapsed into addiction” last fall, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said when announcing the charges on Thursday.

And a network of people were “more concerned with profiting from Mr. Perry than with caring about his well-being,” Estrada said.

Two doctors – Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez – provided Perry with ketamine, Estrada said.

“Defendant Plasencia saw this as an opportunity to profit from Mr. Perry,” Estrada said. “He texted in September 2023, 'I wonder how much this idiot will pay.' He also stated in the text messages that he wanted to be Mr. Perry's sole source of supply.”

From September to October 2023, Perry was distributed “about 20 vials of ketamine,” costing him about $55,000, Estrada said.

The defendant, Jasveen Sangha, whom authorities call the “ketamine queen” of North Hollywood, ran something of a “drug trafficking center” in her home, Estrada said.

Another defendant, Eric Fleming, said he obtained ketamine from Sangha and distributed the ketamine that killed Perry, prosecutors said.

And Perry's assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, injected the actor with ketamine despite having no medical training, Estrada said.

During the last week of Perry's life, Iwamasa injected him with at least 21 shots of ketamine, according to the indictment. Authorities said Iwamasa “administered multiple injections to Perry on October 28, 2023 – the day Perry died.”

Plasencia pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of altering and falsifying documents or records in connection with the federal investigation. His attorney told CNN affiliate KCAL/KCBS that there was no evidence to support the allegations against the doctor.

“Mr. Perry was treated with ketamine. Under medical supervision and prescription. And although the U.S. Attorney may disagree with Dr. Plasencia's medical opinion, there was nothing criminal at the time,” attorney Stefan Sacks told the partner. “More importantly, the ketamine that played a role in Mr. Perry's death had nothing to do with Dr. Plasencia.” CNN has asked Plasencia's attorney for comment.

Chavez, the other doctor accused, “has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine,” prosecutors said. CNN has reached out to Chavez's attorney for comment.

Sangha, the alleged “ketamine queen,” has pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, one count of operating a drug-addicted premises, one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count of possession of ketamine with intent to distribute and five counts of distribution of ketamine. CNN has reached out to her attorney for comment.

Fleming, who said he distributed the ketamine that killed Perry, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Fleming's attorney declined to comment.

And Iwamasa, Perry's assistant, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. CNN has asked Iwamasa's attorney for comment.

CNN's Scott Glover, John Miller, Lisa Respers France and Kelly McCleary contributed to this report.