Five arrests have been made this morning amidst a drug investigation into the death of Friends actor Matthew Perry.
The Friends actor sadly died at the age of 54 on 28 October, 2023, with his cause of death being revealed to be from 'acute effects of ketamine'.
In a press conference on Thursday morning (August 15), the US Department of Justice shared that their investigation revealed a 'broad underground criminal network' that 'took advantage' of the actor by selling him ketamine.
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"This network included a live-in assistant, various go-betweens, two medical doctors, and a major source of drug supply known as 'The Ketamine Queen,'" shared US Attorney Martin Estrada.
"These defendants took advantage of Mr. Perry's addiction issues to enrich themselves. They knew what they were doing was wrong. They knew what they were doing was risking great danger to Mr. Perry," he added.
"But they did it anyways. In the end, these defendants were more interested in profiting off Mr. Perry than caring for his well being."
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The lead defendants in Perry's case have now been confirmed to be doctor Salvador Plasencia and drug trafficker Jasveen Sangha, aka The Ketamine Queen.
They both worked with another doctor, Mark Chavez, Perry's live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, and a 'broker' Erik Fleming, to acquire ketamine and sell it to Perry.
So far, Chavez, Iwasama and Fleming have pleaded guilty to charges.
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Further reports reveal that in the fall of 2023, the defendants distributed around 20 vials of ketamine to the actor in exchange for $55,000 in cash.
Per the US Attorney's Office and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Plasencia mocked Perry in a 2023 message writing, "I wonder how much this moron will pay."
Estrada also reported that on one occasion, Plasencia injected Perry with illegal ketamine and watched him 'freeze up and his blood pressure spike'.
The doctor also allegedly left additional vials of ketamine for Perry's assistant, Iwamasa, to administer despite him having no medical training.
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According to Estrada, Plasencia also told another patient in October 2023 - the month Perry passed away - that the actor was 'spiraling out of control with his addiction.'
"Nonetheless, [he] continued to offer ketamine to Mr. Perry," Estrada added.
The DEA also confirmed that doctors charged Perry $2,000 for a vial of ketamine that had initially cost around $12.
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As the actor's addiction worsened, he reportedly turned to other means to obtain the drug, relying on street dealers who ultimately sold him the ketamine that led to his death.
Text message exchanges between all five defendants reveal that they knew what they were doing to Perry.
Sangha, 'The Ketamine Queen,' reportedly texted: "Delete all our messages" to Fleming after news of Perry's death broke.
The investigation also led to a search of Sangha's home, which was described as a 'drug-selling emporium,' with 80 vials of ketamines, thousands of pills, methamphetamine, and cocaine being found at the scene.
"Matthew Perry’s journey began with unscrupulous doctors who abused their position of trust because they saw him as a payday, and it ended with street dealers who sold him ketamine in unmarked vials,” said DEA administrator Anne Milgram at the press conference.
"The desperation that led Perry to these individuals was not met with help as it should have been from the doctors, but instead it was met with exploitation."
Plasencia faces a maximum sentence of 120 years in federal prison. Meanwhile Sangha faces a minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison.
Perry was found dead in his Los Angeles home on Oct. 28, 2023. Traces of ketamine were found in his system, but at the time it was ruled as an accidental overdose.
The Los Angeles Police Department announced in May 2024 that it would be investigating the source of the ketamine found in his system.
If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can call American Addiction Centers on (313) 209-9137 24/7, or contact them through their website.
Topics: Matthew Perry
Yasmeen Hamadeh