Federal authorities revealed on Thursday that a network of individuals driven by greed, including two doctors, a live-in personal assistant, an acquaintance, and a drug dealer dubbed the “ketamine queen,” conspired to supply Matthew Perry with the ketamine that tragically led to his accidental overdose death last year.
Five individuals have been charged in connection with Perry’s death. They allegedly took advantage of the actor’s vulnerable condition as his ketamine addiction worsened last fall in order to enrich themselves, according to authorities.
“They were fully aware that their actions were unethical and posed a significant risk to Mr. Perry,” emphasized U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada during a press briefing. “Yet, they proceeded with their course of action regardless. Ultimately, these defendants prioritized their own financial gain over the welfare of Mr. Perry.”
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On October 28, 2023, Perry, aged 54, was discovered submerged in the heated section of a pool at his residence in Pacific Palisades. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, Perry’s cause of death was determined to be the direct impact of ketamine, an anesthetic known for its psychedelic properties.
In September, the events that ultimately led to Perry’s death commenced. It all started when Salvador Plasencia, a doctor from Santa Monica, discovered that Perry was interested in acquiring ketamine. While ketamine has gained popularity as a club drug, it is now being utilized more frequently to address depression and other mental health conditions. However, it’s important to note that ketamine also poses significant medical risks.
Plasencia contacted Dr. Mark Chavez, a San Diego-based doctor and former owner of a ketamine clinic, to seek advice on pricing the drug for Perry. The two doctors engaged in discussions to determine the appropriate cost.
Plasencia expressed his curiosity about the amount that the moron would pay in a text message to Chavez, as stated in the indictment. He suggested that they should find out.
Plasencia described the situation as resembling a poorly made movie, as stated in a text message to Chavez, according to the indictment.
Federal prosecutors have revealed that from September until Perry’s passing in late October, doctors supplied him with approximately 20 vials of ketamine. The total cost of these vials amounted to $55,000 in cash.
In mid-October, Iwamasa attempted to find more ketamine for his distressed boss, as stated in the indictment. To do so, he contacted an acquaintance of Perry’s named Erik Fleming, who in turn contacted a prominent underground dealer known as the “ketamine queen.”
Jasveen Sangha, a resident of North Hollywood and a dual citizen of the United States and the United Kingdom, has been engaging in the sale of ketamine and other drugs for an extended period, as stated by federal prosecutors.
Sangha was well aware of the potential lethality of ketamine. In August 2019, prosecutors revealed that a man had fatally overdosed on ketamine obtained from Sangha. The devastating consequences of this incident were conveyed to Sangha through a text message from one of the man’s family members. The message explicitly stated, “The ketamine you sold my brother killed him. It’s listed as the cause of death.”
According to prosecutors, Sangha proceeded to type a question into Google, asking if ketamine could be listed as a cause of death.
Later that day, the beloved actor, renowned for his portrayal of Chandler Bing on the popular sitcom “Friends,” was discovered in his pool in an unresponsive state.
According to Drug Enforcement Administration chief Anne Millgram, Matthew Perry’s story started with doctors who took advantage of their authority and viewed him as a source of money. She stated this during a news conference, highlighting the unethical actions of these professionals. Unfortunately, Perry’s journey ultimately led him to street dealers who sold him ketamine in unmarked vials.
Sangha, 41, and Plasencia, 42, were apprehended on Thursday in Southern California. They face charges of conspiring to distribute ketamine. Additionally, Sangha is facing several other drug-related charges.
During a court hearing on Thursday, Plasencia, dressed in formal attire and wearing shackles, entered a plea of not guilty. The judge subsequently set his bond at $100,000.
The judge presiding over the case has granted permission for Placensia to continue operating the non-controlled substance aspect of his practice. However, he must fulfill certain conditions, including posting a notice at his office informing patients about the charges. Additionally, Placensia must obtain signed releases from his patients, acknowledging their awareness of the allegations made against him.
Plasencia has her next hearing set for August 28th.
Plasencia’s lawyer, who represented him in his clinic located at a strip mall in Calabasas, has not yet provided a comment in response to the request. A local business owner, who wishes to remain anonymous due to concerns of potential harassment, shared a brief encounter with Plasencia around two months ago. This encounter took place after the business owner noticed a sign advertising weight loss medication at Plasencia’s clinic.
According to the business owner, Plasencia tried to sell him weight loss drugs without any consultation. However, the business owner declined the offer, stating, “I’m glad I didn’t do it.”
On Thursday afternoon, Palencia’s clinic displayed a sign promoting weight loss medication, although the front doors were locked. A handwritten note informed visitors that the urgent care facility would be closed for the day.
After Perry passed away, federal agents and detectives conducted a search of Sangha’s home. During the search, they discovered around 79 vials of ketamine, three pounds of orange pills containing methamphetamine, as well as hallucinogenic mushrooms and cocaine.
Sangha, donning oversized round spectacles and a vibrant baggy Nirvana T-shirt, made her appearance in court. Following her plea of not guilty, the judge deemed her a flight risk and subsequently ordered her to be held without bail.
Sangha had been arrested in March for a different federal drug case, where she faced allegations of being involved in significant drug trafficking. Court records indicate that she was able to secure her release from custody by posting a $100,000 bond for that particular case.
Perry’s 59-year-old assistant, Iwamasa, pled guilty on August 7 to conspiring to distribute ketamine resulting in a death. He confessed to administering ketamine to Perry without proper medical training, even on the day of the actor’s demise, as per prosecutors.
Dr. Chavez, a 54-year-old physician from San Diego, has reached an agreement to plead guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Prosecutors have revealed that he confessed to selling ketamine to Plasencia.
Fleming, who is 54 years old, pleaded guilty on August 8. He confessed to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Fleming admitted to distributing the ketamine that led to Perry’s death. Prosecutors claim that Fleming received the drugs from Sangha.
Perry had been receiving ketamine infusion therapy to address his depression and anxiety. However, it is important to note that his final session occurred over a week before his passing. The medical examiner determined that the ketamine found in Perry’s system could not have been from the recent infusion therapy, considering its short half-life.
The medical examiner determined that the levels of ketamine in his body were high, equivalent to the dosage administered during surgery for general anesthesia. As a result, the coroner concluded that his death was accidental.
Perry openly shared his long and arduous battle with opioid addiction and alcoholism in his memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing” published in 2022.
Law enforcement frequently investigates and, in certain instances, presses charges against individuals who supplied drugs resulting in a high-profile fatality.
In 2009, following the demise of Michael Jackson, his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, faced a conviction of involuntary manslaughter. He had administered the singer a lethal dosage of potent drugs. In a more recent case, federal prosecutors in New York pressed charges against four individuals responsible for supplying actor Michael K. Williams with heroin laced with fentanyl, resulting in his tragic death in 2021.
The family of Keith Morrison, the stepfather of Perry and a correspondent for “Dateline,” expressed their approval of the law enforcement action in a statement.
The family expressed their heartbreak over Matthew’s death and found solace in knowing that law enforcement has been diligently investigating his case. They remain hopeful that justice will be served and are eager for the legal process to unfold.
