Five Charged in Matthew Perry’s Death: Inside the Ketamine Scandal That Shook Hollywood!
Matthew Perry’s assistant and two doctors have been charged in connection with the actor’s death, which authorities have described as involving a “broad underground criminal network.” This network allegedly provided Perry with dangerous amounts of ketamine, a powerful anesthetic, leading to his overdose and death.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada announced the charges on Thursday, revealing that the doctors exploited Perry’s history of addiction to administer ketamine in amounts they knew were harmful. “They knew what they were doing was wrong,” Estrada said. “They knew what they were doing was risking great danger to Mr. Perry. But they did it anyway.”
One of the doctors involved even sent a text message that read, “I wonder how much this moron will pay” and “Let’s find out,” according to an indictment unsealed on Thursday. Perry, who died in October, had received multiple ketamine injections from his live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, on the day of his death. Iwamasa discovered Perry’s lifeless body and was the first to speak with investigators.
Ketamine has recently gained popularity as a treatment for depression, anxiety, and pain, although it is not officially approved for these uses. Perry had been receiving regular ketamine treatments from his primary doctors for depression. However, when these doctors refused to provide more, Perry sought the drug from others willing to bypass medical regulations.
Estrada clarified, “We are not talking about legitimate ketamine treatment. We’re talking about two doctors who abused the trust they had and their licenses to put another person’s life at risk.” DEA Administrator Anne Milgram revealed that Perry paid $2,000 for a vial of ketamine, which cost the physicians about $12. In total, Perry paid approximately $55,000 in cash to these doctors in the two months before his death.
Among those charged, Dr. Salvador Plasencia faces seven counts of ketamine distribution and two counts of falsifying records after Perry’s death. Plasencia pleaded not guilty during a court appearance on Thursday and can be released on a $100,000 bond.
His lawyer, Stefan Sacks, argued that Plasencia had only acted with the best medical intentions. Still, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian V. Yanniello described Plasencia’s actions as akin to those of a street-level drug dealer. Magistrate Judge Alka Sagar ruled that Plasencia could only treat patients if they signed a document acknowledging his legal troubles.
Jasveen Sangha, known as the “Ketamine Queen,” was also charged. Sangha, whose ketamine supply contributed to Perry’s death, pleaded not guilty and was denied bail. She had previously been arrested and released on bond in March but is now alleged to have played a direct role in Perry’s death. Prosecutors accused Sangha of destroying evidence and using drug sale proceeds to support a lavish lifestyle.
Dr. Mark Chavez, a San Diego physician, has agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to distribute ketamine. Chavez is accused of supplying ketamine to Plasencia through a fraudulent prescription.
Prosecutors have indicated that Plasencia could face up to 120 years in prison, while Sangha could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted. Records show that Plasencia’s medical license is set to expire in October, but it has been in good standing with no previous complaints.
The investigation revealed that the defendants exchanged messages shortly after Perry’s death, discussing ketamine as the cause. They allegedly deleted messages and falsified records to cover their tracks. Los Angeles police, in collaboration with the DEA and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, have been investigating the circumstances surrounding Perry’s death.
Perry was found dead in his hot tub on October 28, and paramedics pronounced him dead upon arrival. The assistant, Iwamasa, had received ketamine from Erik Fleming, who had already pleaded guilty to delivering the drug to Iwamasa.
Perry’s autopsy report confirmed that the ketamine levels in his blood were consistent with those used for general anesthesia during surgery, but the drug is usually metabolized within hours. Estrada noted that Plasencia had witnessed Perry experiencing severe reactions to the drug but continued to leave vials for later use.
The medical examiner ruled Perry’s death accidental, with ketamine as the primary cause and drowning and other medical issues as contributing factors. Perry’s long-standing struggles with addiction were well-known, stemming from his time as Chandler Bing on “Friends,” where he was a major television star.
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Similar cases of drug-related celebrity deaths have led to prosecutions of those who supplied the substances. For example, individuals involved in rapper Mac Miller’s overdose and Michael Jackson’s death faced legal consequences for their roles in those tragedies.