DRUG DEATH
Matthew Perry’s assistant & 2 docs among 5 charged in overdose death after ‘calling him moron as they sold him ketamine’
One of the suspects is known to investigators as the 'Ketamine Queen'
FIVE people, including Matthew Perry's personal live-in assistant, have been charged in connection with the Friends star's fatal drug overdose.
Los Angeles investigators said the suspects "took advantage of Perry's addiction to enrich themselves" with doctors Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez charging the actor $2,000 for a vial of ketamine that cost them $12.
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Officials said Palsencia, 42, and Chavez, a physician in San Diego, coordinated with Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry's personal live-in assistant, to distribute the drugs to the famed actor.
Martin Estrada, the US attorney for the Central District of California, said Perry fell back into addiction during the fall of 2023.
"These defendants took advantage to profit for themselves," Estrada said.
On September 30, 2023, Plasencia and Chavez discussed purchasing ketamine so they could sell it to Perry, according to a federal indictment.
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In a text message, prosecutors said Plasencia and Chavez discussed how much they were going to charge Perry, writing, "I wonder how much this moron will pay" and "Let's find out."
MATTHEW PERRY'S 'OUT OF CONTROL ADDICTION'
Estrada said that between September and October 2023, Plasencia, Chavez, and Iwamasa distributed approximately 20 vials of ketamine to Perry for $55,000 in cash.
Prosecutors said Plascenia saw it as an opportunity to profit off of Perry.
"He [Plascenia] also stated in text messages that he wanted to be Mr. Perry's sole source of supply for drugs," Estrada said.
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"As a doctor defendant Plasencia knew full well the danger of what he was doing."
The attorney said that on one occasion Plasencia injected Perry with ketamine and saw the actor "freeze and his blood pressure spike."
Heartbreaking 911 dispatch call gives major clue to Matthew Perry's cause of death as he's found dead in hot tub
Plasencia spoke with another patient in mid-October 2023, where he described how Perry was "spiraling out of control with his addiction."
But despite his concerns, Plascencia kept administering ketamine to the actor.
Drug Enforcement Agency administrator Anne Milgram said as Perry's addiction grew he turned to street dealers to score the drug quicker and cheaper.
Perry turned to Eric Fleming, a broker who sourced his ketamine from suspected drug dealer Jasveen Sangha, known to prosecutors as "the Ketamine Queen."
Sangha sold approximately 50 vials of ketamine to Perry during a two-week period in October 2023, Estrada said.
About 25 vials were sold to Perry four days before his death, according to the indictment.
Sangha worked with Fleming and Iwamasa to distribute the drugs to the actor.
Fleming and Sangha also worked together to profit from Perry, with the broker writing in a text exchange, "I wouldn't do it if there wasn't a chance of me making some money for doing this."
Sangha profited approximately $11,000 in cash from the sales, according to Estrada.
What we know so far...
- Five people were charged for the fatal drug overdose of famed Friends actor Matthew Perry, who was found dead on October 28, 2023.
- The suspects named in the federal indictment were identified as doctors Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez, Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry's live-in assistant; broker Mark Fleming, and accused drug dealer Jasveen Sangha.
- Investigators said Matthew Perry fell back into addiction during the fall of 2023.
- Between September and October 2023, Plasencia, Chavez, and Sangha distributed approximately 70 vials of ketamine to Perry.
- The five suspects coordinated to deliver the drugs to Perry to "enrich themselves," prosecutors said.
- Plasencia and Sangha were arrested on Thursday, while Fleming signed a plea agreement.
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FATAL BATCH
Estrada said Sangha, 41, sold the batch of ketamine that led to Perry's death.
Investigators conducted a search warrant at Sangha's home in North Hollywood and uncovered "what amounted to a drug-selling emporium."
Officials found 80 vials of ketamine, thousands of pills containing methamphetamine, cocaine, Xanax bottles, and other drug paraphernalia.
"The defendants in this case knew what they were doing was wrong. When they referred to the ketamine they used coded language," Estrada said.
The defendants referred to the bottles of ketamine as "Dr. Pepper," "cans," and "bots."
Officials said Plasencia and Sangha were arrested on Thursday, while Fleming, 54, Iwamasa, 59, and Chavez, 54, all agreed to plead guilty to an array of drug charges.
When clinic doctors refused to increase his dosage he turned to unscrupulous doctors, who saw Perry as a way to make quick money.
Anne Milgram
Iwamasa, who has no medical background, repeatedly injected Perry multiple times with ketamine, and it is believed he administered the fatal dose on October 28, 2023.
Estrada said the five defendants attempted to cover up their wrongdoing after learning about Perry's death.
"Delete all our messages," Sangha texted Fleming, according to prosecutors.
Plasencia falsified medical records and notes in an attempt to disguise what he did as legitimate.
Meanwhile, Sangha is facing a separate federal drug charge after previously selling a fatal batch of ketamine to another customer in 2019, prosecutors said.
The victim, identified as Cody McGlory, died after taking the bad drugs.
Plasencia, a physician at an urgent care center known as "Dr. P," is facing 120 years in prison, while Sangha is facing a life sentence.
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MATTHEW PERRY'S DEATH
The charges come nearly a year after Matthew Perry, 54, was found dead in the hot tub of his home in Los Angeles on October 28, 2023.
Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic that is used to treat depression and pain, according to Johns Hopkins Medical.
An autopsy revealed the Friends star had traces of ketamine in his system on the night his live-in assistant discovered him floating face down in the hot tub of his swimming pool at his Palisades home.
The autopsy report detailed Perry's final moments, which included his 11 am pickleball session.
His live-in assistant last reported seeing the actor at around 1:37 pm on October 28, 2023.
Upon returning to Perry's home, the assistant found him floating face-down in his hot tub.
I wouldn't do it if there wasn't a chance of me making some money for doing this.
Eric Fleming
The assistant quickly jumped in and pulled Perry's head out of the water before calling the police.
Paramedics arrived and moved Perry out of the water before pronouncing him dead.
Perry had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy to treat depression and anxiety.
It was during this time that Perry became addicted to ketamine, Drug Enforcement Agency administrator Anne Milgram revealed on Thursday.
"When clinic doctors refused to increase his dosage he turned to unscrupulous doctors, who saw Perry as a way to make quick money," Milgram said.
"As Matthew Perry's ketamine addiction grew, he wanted more, and he wanted faster and cheaper.
"That is how he ended up buying from street dealers, who sold the ketamine that ultimately led to his death."
Five charged in Matthew Perry's death
On August 15, prosecutors announced a slew of charges stemming from the tragic overdose death of Friends star Matthew Perry.
Here are the five individuals allegedly behind Perry's ketamine crisis.
- "Ketamine Queen of Los Angeles" Jasveen Sangha - Sangha is a 41-year-old drug dealer who allegedly helped sell the ketamine that killed Perry, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. In 2019, Sangha sold ketamine to another victim hours before he died, prosecutors say. After hearing of his death, she allegedly searched "can ketamine be listed as a cause of death," on Google. She faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of all charges.
- "Dr. P" Dr. Salvador Plasencia - Plasencia, 42, allegedly learned that Perry was seeking ketamine, and obtained doses from a dirty doctor. Speaking to the doctor over text, he allegedly said, "I wonder how much this moron will pay." Plasencia taught unlicensed people associated with Perry how to inject ketamine, and even personally injected it at times, prosecutors say. Perry's assistant, who was taught by Plasencia, administered the fatal dose on October 28, 2023. Plasencia is facing nine charges stemming from the death.
- Kenneth Iwamasa - Iwamasa, 59, was Perry's live-in assistant who was allegedly taught how to inject ketamine by Dr. Plasencia, according to prosecutors. He also corresponded with dealers to organize the sale and delivery of the drug. He admitted to injecting Perry multiple times on the day of his death in a guilty plea.
- Eric Fleming - Fleming, 54, is a dealer who helped to coordinate drug sales to Sangha before they ultimately made it to Perry. He corresponded with Iwamasa when ketamine was on its way to their home. Fleming admitted to distributing 50 vials of ketamine to Iwamasa, half of them four days before Perry's death.
- Dr. Mark Chavez - Chavez admitted to selling ketamine to Dr. Plasencia by writing fraudulent prescriptions. He also coordinated with Iwamasa to get the drugs to Perry. Between September and October 2023, Plasencia, Chavez, and Iwamasa allegedly distributed approximately 20 vials of ketamine to Perry for $55,000 in cash.
HIGH LEVELS OF KETAMINE
Los Angeles police launched a criminal investigation into Perry's death after learning the ketamine that caused the actor's death was not prescribed by a doctor.
The medical examiner's report described the levels of ketamine in Perry's system as equivalent to the amount for general anesthesia during surgery.
His death was ultimately ruled an accident, including other contributing factors such as drowning, cardiovascular overstimulation, and respiratory depression caused by ketamine.
The news sent shockwaves throughout the entertainment world, as his Friends co-stars took their time to publicly mourn the actor.
FOREVER FRIENDS
The Friends cast individually honored Perry, penning a gut-wrenching tribute on their social media platforms following weeks of silence.
His Friends costar Matt LeBlanc, who portrayed Joey Tribbiani and Perry's character's best friend, wrote, "It is with a heavy heart I say goodbye.
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"The times we had together are honestly among the favorite times of my life. It was an honor to share the stage with you and to call you my friend.
"I will always smile when I think of you and I'll never forget you. Never. Spread your wings and fly brother you're finally free. Much love."
LeBlanc, 56, ended his statement with a touch of brevity, further demonstrating their long-time friendship: "And I guess you're keeping the 20 bucks you owe me."
Courtney Cox, who played Monica Geller, Perry's wife in Friends, followed LeBlanc.
"I am so grateful for every moment I had with you Matty and I miss you every day," the actress, 59, wrote.
"When you work with someone as closely as I did with Matthew, there are thousands of moments I wish I could share. For now here's one of my favorites.
"To give a little backstory, Chandler and Monica were supposed to have a one night fling in London. But because of the audience’s reaction, it became the beginning of their love story.
"In this scene, before we started rolling, he whispered a funny line for me to say.
"He often did things like that. He was funny and he was kind."
Timeline of Matthew Perry's case
Here is a timeline on the progress of Matthew Perry's case since his death:
- Matthew Perry was found unresponsive in a hot tub by his assistant on October 28, 2023.
- He was pronounced dead at the scene after firefighters lifted him from the hot tub.
- Perry was 54 at the time of his death.
- His funeral was held at Forest Lawn cemetery in Hollywood Hills on November 3.
- On December 15, 2023, Perry's death was ruled as an accident from the "acute effects of ketamine."
- The Los Angeles Police Department launched a criminal investigation in December to determine how Perry obtained the drugs that took his life.
- The LAPD has since been working with the Drug Enforcement Administration and the US Postal Inspection Service to re-trace the line of supply of the ketamine.
Jennifer Aniston, who portrayed Rachel Green in all 236 episodes, followed.
Aniston shared a photo from the Friends set, a text message exchange between the two, and a scene from the show.
The black and white picture showed both Aniston and Perry seated while on set and reading lines with one another.
A second slide showed a joyous text exchange between the former castmates.
Aniston penned, "Oh boy this one has cut deep... Having to say goodbye to our Matty has been an insane wave of emotions that I’ve never experienced before.
"We all experience loss at some point in our lives. Loss of life or loss of love. Being able to really SIT in this grief allows you to feel the moments of joy and gratitude for having loved someone that deep.
"And we loved him deeply. He was such a part of our DNA. We were always the 6 of us. This was a chosen family that forever changed the course of who we were and what our path was going to be.
"For Matty, he KNEW he loved to make people laugh. As he said himself, if he didn't hear the ‘laugh’ he thought he was going to die. His life literally depended on it. And boy did he succeed in doing just that.
"He made all of us laugh. And laugh hard. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve been pouring over our texts to one another. Laughing and crying then laughing again.
"I’ll keep them forever and ever. I found one text that he sent me out of nowhere one day. It says it all. (See the second slide…)."
Aniston continued, "Matty, I love you so much and I know you are now completely at peace and out of any pain.
"I talk to you every day… sometimes I can almost hear you saying, 'Could you BE any crazier?'
"Rest little brother. You always made my day…"
This photo is from one of my favorite moments with you. Now it makes me smile and grieve at the same time.
David Schwimmer
David Schwimmer, who played Ross Geller and Chandler's college roommate and eventual brother-in-law, shared a single photo of the two dressed in Miami Vice-inspired outfits from the Friends episode The One With Thanksgiving Flashbacks.
"Matty, Thank you for ten incredible years of laughter and creativity," a grieving Schwimmer wrote.
"I will never forget your impeccable comic timing and delivery. You could take a straight line of dialogue and bend it to your will, resulting in something so entirely original and unexpectedly funny it still astonishes.
"And you had heart. Which you were generous with, and shared with us so we could create a family out of six strangers.
"This photo is from one of my favorite moments with you. Now it makes me smile and grieve at the same time.
"I imagine you up there, somewhere, in the same white suit, hands in your pockets, looking around—
"'Could there BE any more clouds?'"
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Lisa Kudrow, who played Phoebe Buffay, was the last to pen her goodbye to Perry.
"Shot the pilot, Friends Like Us, got picked up then immediately, we were at the NBC Upfronts," Kudrow wrote, sharing a throwback photo of her and Perry.
"Then…You suggested we play poker AND made it so much fun while we initially bonded. Thank you for that.
"Thank you for making me laugh so hard at something you said, that my muscles ached, and tears poured down my face EVERY DAY.
"Thank you for your open heart in a six way relationship that required compromise. And a lot of 'talking.'
"Thank you for showing up at work when you weren’t well and then, being completely brilliant.
"Thank you for the best 10 years a person gets to have.
"Thank you for trusting me.
"Thank you for all I learned about GRACE and LOVE through knowing you.
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"Thank you for the time I got to have with you, Matthew."
Perry's funeral was held at Forest Lawn Church of the Hills in Los Angeles on November 3, 2023, down the road from where he and his Friends castmates filmed the iconic sitcom for 10 years.