Matthew Perry’s Personal Assistant and Two Doctors Charged in Connection with His Death

Matthew Perry’s Personal Assistant and Two Doctors Charged in Connection with His Death

Five individuals are facing federal charges related to the death of actor Matthew Perry, who passed away in October due to acute effects of ketamine.

At a press conference on Thursday, the Department of Justice announced that these five individuals, including Perry’s personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa and two doctors, Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez, have been indicted for providing the ketamine that led to Perry’s death. The other two charged are Erik Fleming, an acquaintance of Perry, and Jasveen Sangha, a North Hollywood resident allegedly known as the “Ketamine Queen.”

“These defendants exploited Mr. Perry’s struggles with addiction for their own gain,” stated United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “Their actions prioritized profit over Perry’s well-being.”

Sangha faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to distribute ketamine, maintaining a drug-involved premises, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and several counts of ketamine distribution. Dr. Plasencia is charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Meanwhile, Iwamasa, Fleming, and Dr. Chavez have been charged separately in connection with Perry’s death.

Iwamasa, Perry’s assistant, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. He admitted to repeatedly injecting Perry with ketamine, including several injections on the day of the actor’s death.

Dr. Chavez, based in San Diego, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine. He admitted to selling ketamine to Dr. Plasencia, some of which he had diverted from his former ketamine clinic. Chavez further obtained ketamine by falsifying documents and submitting a fraudulent prescription in a former patient’s name.

Fleming, too, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death. He admitted to obtaining ketamine from Sangha and distributing 50 vials to Iwamasa, half of which were acquired just four days before Perry’s death.

“This tragic case underscores the importance of holding these dangerous individuals accountable,” said Los Angeles Police Chief Dominic Choi. “Their actions have caused irreparable harm, and they will no longer pose a threat to others.”

Authorities revealed that after Perry’s death, law enforcement launched an in-depth investigation into a “broad underground criminal network” responsible for distributing ketamine to Perry and others.

Prosecutors alleged that on September 30, 2023, Dr. Plasencia texted Dr. Chavez about purchasing ketamine to sell to “victim M.P.,” later identified as Perry. In another message, Dr. Plasencia discussed pricing Perry, reportedly writing, “I wonder how much this moron will pay” and “Let’s find out.”

Authorities also alleged that after Perry’s death received media attention, the defendants attempted to cover up their involvement. Estrada cited a text exchange between Plasencia and Chavez that allegedly read, “Delete all our messages,” and claimed Plasencia later “falsified medical records to make it appear as though his actions were legitimate.”

Prosecutors noted that the ketamine allegedly distributed by Sangha, linked to Perry’s death, was also connected to a fatal overdose in 2019.

This development comes months after a law enforcement source told PEOPLE that a coordinated investigation by the LAPD, Drug Enforcement Administration, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service was “nearing its conclusion,” with the belief that “multiple people” would face charges.

On October 28, Perry was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home and was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities initially reported no signs of foul play.

An autopsy report obtained by EW in December revealed that Perry’s death was due to the acute effects of ketamine, with additional contributing factors including drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine effects. The report also noted that Perry had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy, but the ketamine found in his system at the time of death was not from his last therapy session, which had occurred over a week earlier.

In May, more than six months after Perry’s death, the LAPD confirmed that the case was still under investigation, despite reports suggesting otherwise.

“A post-mortem examination of Mr. Perry was conducted by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner on October 29, 2023,” said a statement from the LAPD. “The results, released on December 15, 2023, indicated that Mr. Perry died from the ‘acute effects of ketamine.’ Based on these findings, the LAPD, along with the DEA and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, continued their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Perry’s death.”

Matthew Perry, a five-time Emmy nominee, was best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the iconic sitcom Friends, which ran for 10 seasons from 1994 to 2004. He also appeared in films like 17 Again, Fools Rush In, and The Whole Nine Yards, and starred in television series such as Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, The Odd Couple, and Mr. Sunshine.

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