Five People Including Personal Assistant And Two Doctors Have Been Charged In Connection With Matthew Perry's Death
Authorities have arrested five individuals in connection with the 2023 death of Friends actor Matthew Perry, including his assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, two doctors, a street dealer, and a drug trafficker, as confirmed by U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada.
According to Estrada, the investigation revealed that these individuals exploited Perry's addiction for their own financial gain. Court documents state that over two months in the fall of 2023, the group supplied Perry with approximately 20 vials of ketamine, each vial costing $12, but sold to the actor for over $2,000.
"They knew their actions were wrong and dangerous to Mr. Perry, yet they proceeded, prioritizing profit over his well-being," Estrada said. The documents indicate that Iwamasa collaborated with Dr. Salvador Plascencia, Dr. Mark Chavez, and drug dealer Eric Fleming to acquire large amounts of ketamine for Perry, who had struggled with substance abuse for years.
Investigators uncovered numerous text messages, some encrypted and using code words like "Dr. Pepper" for ketamine. In one exchange, Plascencia, referred to as "Dr. P," allegedly wrote, "I wonder how much this moron will pay," while discussing Perry.
Perry reportedly turned to Fleming, who sourced the ketamine from a trafficker known as "the Ketamine Queen," Jasveen Sangha, 41. After Perry's death, Sangha allegedly texted Fleming, instructing him to "delete all our messages."
Iwamasa, 59, faces charges including conspiracy to distribute ketamine and has pleaded guilty, admitting to "repeatedly injecting Perry with ketamine without medical training," including on the day the actor died, October 28, 2023. Chavez and Fleming also face conspiracy charges, while Sangha and Plascencia have been charged with more serious offenses, including ketamine distribution resulting in death.
Perry, 54, was found dead in the jacuzzi of his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023. The autopsy confirmed his death was caused by acute ketamine effects. Although Perry had been receiving ketamine infusions for depression and anxiety, the amount in his system far exceeded therapeutic levels, suggesting foul play.
In a statement, Perry’s stepfather, Keith Morrison, expressed the family's heartbreak over his death but appreciated the seriousness with which law enforcement pursued the case. "We look forward to justice taking its course."
Matt LeBlanc as Joey Tribbiani, Lisa Kudrow as Phoebe Buffay, Courteney Cox as Monica Geller, David Schwimmer as Ross Geller, Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing, Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green in Friends
Best known for his role as Chandler Bing on Friends, which ran from 1992 to 2002, struggled with addiction throughout his life. In his 2022 memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, he revealed near-fatal experiences due to his substance abuse. Despite his public success, Perry's private battles ultimately led to his tragic end.
Matthew also expressed, "The doctors told my family I had just a 2 percent chance of surviving. They placed me on an ECMO machine, which took over the work of my heart and lungs. It was a last-ditch effort, a real Hail Mary. People don’t usually make it through that."
