The late Friends star Matthew Perry was in stable condition after a doctor gave him a “large dose” of ketamine two weeks before he died of an overdose at his Los Angeles home.
Five individuals were charged Thursday in connection with the beloved actor’s October 2023 death. The list of multiple arrests included two doctors – Salvador Plascencia and Mark Chavez. In addition, Perry’s longtime assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, alleged street dealer Eric Fleming and the so-called “Ketamine Queen of Los Angeles” Jasveen Sangha were also accused of fraudulently extorting thousands of dollars from the 54-year-old actor for vials containing the drug, which reportedly cost as little as $12 each.
Defendant Plasencia’s role in the death of Matthew Perry
The New York Post reported that 16 days before Perry was found dead in his jacuzzi, Plasencia noticed the actor went through an unfortunate episode in which he felt “frozen” and his blood pressure rose after being given a large dose of ketamine.
The 42-year-old rogue doctor, who was licensed to prescribe and dispense drugs, also allegedly knew about Perry’s substance abuse, especially since the actor had been very vocal about his addiction. Despite the knowledge, Plascencia took the opportunity to take advantage of his problems, as documented in his messages with Perry’s live-in assistant. “I wonder how much this idiot would pay for powerful tranquilizers,” Plascencia said in one message, according to the indictment.
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How Matthew Perry’s assistant acted as co-conspirator days before the actor’s death
In the final days of his life, Iwamasa, who had been living with Perry since 1994 and had no medical training, followed Plascencia’s instructions to administer at least 27 injections of ketamine to the actor. Prosecutors allege those injections included three that “caused death and serious bodily injury.”
On the day he died, Iwamasa gave him his first shot of ketamine at about 8:30 a.m. Four hours later, while Perry was watching a movie in his L.A. home, the assistant gave him a second dose. However, Perry soon asked for another shot. Iwamasa said in a plea agreement he signed that his boss called him for another dose just 40 minutes later, telling him to “give me a bigger shot.” Perry also asked Iwamasa to prepare his hot tub.
According to court papers, after administering the third injection full of ketamine, Iwamasa left the premises to run some errands. When the assistant arrived home, she found Perry lying face down in the water. He was already dead.
Perry’s history of substance abuse was exploited
Perry was reportedly taking ketamine therapy for anxiety and depression at the time of his death. However, his physicians at a local clinic did not increase his dosage, leaving Perry eager to obtain the drug from illegal sources. As suspicion and foul play were initially pointed in the case, the latest development in the investigation revealed that the 17 Again star had approached Plasencia to obtain the drugs.
Plasencia eventually turned to Mark Chavez for ketamine, Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Anne Milgram said Thursday.
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Starting in September 2023, the doctor was allegedly responsible for supplying Perry with approximately 20 vials of the drug. In return, he swindled $55,000 in cash from Perry, charging $2,000 for a 12-pack of vials, despite knowing the actor’s addiction was worsening.
The court documents also state that defendant Sangha “directed co-conspirator Fleming to destroy evidence” upon learning of Perry’s death. Sangha, who is believed to have administered the actor’s final dose of ketamine, allegedly called Fleming using the Signal app and discussed distancing himself from selling ketamine to the Friends star, “among other things, erasing digital evidence on his cell phone.”
The following charges were leveled against the defendants
Plasencia and Sangha have been charged with one count of conspiring to distribute ketamine. Meanwhile, the former has also been charged with seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of falsification and falsification of documents or records related to the federal investigation.
Sangha is additionally charged with one count of maintaining a drug-related premises, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute ketamine, and five counts of distribution of ketamine.
On the other hand, Fleming, Iwamasa, and Chavez confessed to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death.
