Five Charged in Matthew Perry’s Death

Five people have been charged in connection with the death of actor Matthew Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit show ‘Friends.’ Federal authorities announced the charges this week, describing a troubling network that took advantage of Perry’s struggles with addiction.

Perry, who was 54 at the time of his death, was found unresponsive in his hot tub on October 28, 2023. An autopsy revealed that he died from an overdose of ketamine, a powerful anesthetic that has recently gained popularity for treating mental health issues.

The individuals charged include two doctors, a personal assistant, an acquaintance, and a dealer known as the “ketamine queen.” According to a federal indictment, these people exploited Perry’s vulnerabilities and profited from supplying him with the drug in dangerously high doses.

Salvador Plasencia, a Santa Monica doctor, allegedly supplied ketamine to Perry while discussing how much money he could make off the actor. Text messages reveal troubling comments from Plasencia, who referred to Perry in a derogatory manner.

From September until Perry’s death, Plasencia and another physician, Mark Chavez, reportedly sold the actor around 20 vials of ketamine for a staggering total of about $55,000 in cash.

Perry’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, played a role in this dangerous scheme by injecting the actor with ketamine multiple times, even on the day Perry died. Iwamasa has already pleaded guilty to charges related to Perry’s death.

Prosecutors also indicated that Iwamasa sought help from an acquaintance, Erik Fleming, who connected him with Jasveen Sangha, a known drug dealer. Sangha provided ketamine to Fleming, who then distributed it to Iwamasa for Perry’s use.

Authorities are treating this case seriously. DEA Administrator Anne Milgram emphasized that these defendants abused their medical licenses and trust. They prioritized profits over Perry’s health, leading to a tragic outcome and highlighting the dangers posed by illegal drug distribution.