Federal and local law enforcement officials announced on Thursday that several arrests have been made in connection with the overdose death of Matthew Perry.
U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Martin Estrada, revealed during a live press conference that five individuals, including two doctors, have been arrested and charged with multiple offenses.
The “Friends” star passed away on October 28, following an apparent drowning in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home in the Pacific Palisades. He was 54 years old.
Matthew Perry’s death was attributed to the “acute effects of ketamine,” according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.
The arrested individuals include Jasveen Sangha, 41, also known as “The Ketamine Queen,” from North Hollywood; Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 42, also referred to as “Dr. P,” from Santa Monica; Eric Fleming, 54, from Hawthorne; Kenneth Iwamasa, 59, from Toluca Lake; and Dr. Mark Chavez, 54, from San Diego.
Estrada disclosed that the defendants allegedly supplied approximately “20 vials for around $50,000 in cash” to Perry, which were intended for distribution by Kenneth (Kenny) Iwamasa, Perry’s live-in assistant.
In another instance, the dealers reportedly “took advantage of Mr. Perry” by selling approximately “50 vials of ketamine for around $11,000 in cash.”
Iwamasa, who had served as Perry’s personal assistant, is accused of conspiring with Sangha, Fleming, and Plasencia to illegally obtain and distribute ketamine to the actor.
Court documents reveal that Iwamasa admitted to administering ketamine injections to Perry multiple times without any medical training, including on the day of Perry’s death.
Iwamasa pleaded guilty on August 7 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death and has already entered a plea agreement.
Sangha and Plasencia are each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Sangha faces additional charges, including one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute ketamine, and five counts of ketamine distribution.
If convicted, Sangha faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, with a possible maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Plasencia could face up to 10 years in federal prison for each ketamine-related charge and up to 20 years for each count of records falsification.
Fleming pleaded guilty on August 8 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. He admitted in court documents to supplying the ketamine that led to Perry’s death and has also agreed to a plea deal.
Chavez has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine as part of his plea agreement. The San Diego-based doctor admitted to selling ketamine to Plasencia, including ketamine diverted from his former ketamine clinic.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that the investigation into Matthew Perry’s death remains active.
Authorities reported that they are collaborating with the DEA and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to determine the reasons behind the high levels of ketamine found in Perry’s system at the time of his death in October.
Perry’s autopsy results, released in December, detected trace amounts of ketamine in his stomach, with his death being attributed to the “acute effects of ketamine.”
Additional factors contributing to his death included “coronary artery disease and buprenorphine effects,” as noted in the report. Prescription medications and loose pills were also discovered at the residence.
The autopsy revealed that substances such as alcohol, methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, PCP, and fentanyl were not detected. The exact method of ketamine intake in Perry’s case remains unknown.
Ketamine is described as a dissociative anesthetic drug with “established medical and surgical uses,” and Perry reportedly received “ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety.”
His last known treatment was over a week before his death, but the medical examiner determined that the ketamine in his system at the time of death could not have originated from that therapy, as ketamine’s half-life is only 3 to 4 hours, or less.
No foul play was suspected, and no illegal drugs were found at the scene. Matthew Perry was laid to rest on November 3 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles.
