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Matthew Perry’s Assistant and Two Doctors Charged in Connection with Actor’s Fatal Ketamine Overdose
Aug
Five individuals are now facing federal charges related to the death of Friends star Matthew Perry, who passed away in October 2023 due to acute effects of ketamine. Among those charged are Perry’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, and two doctors, Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez. The Department of Justice announced the indictments during a press conference on Thursday, revealing that the accused were involved in providing the ketamine that led to Perry’s untimely death.
The charges stem from an investigation that began shortly after Perry was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023. Authorities initially reported no signs of foul play, but subsequent autopsy results pointed to ketamine as a contributing factor in Perry’s death, alongside drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine.
Iwamasa, who served as Perry’s personal assistant, has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. According to officials, Iwamasa admitted to repeatedly injecting Perry with ketamine, including multiple injections on the day of his death. Dr. Plasencia and Dr. Chavez, both of whom were involved in supplying the ketamine, have also pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges. Chavez reportedly diverted ketamine from his former clinic and submitted fraudulent prescriptions, while Plasencia allegedly falsified medical records to cover up their involvement.
The investigation uncovered a broader criminal network involved in distributing ketamine, with Jasveen Sangha—dubbed the “Ketamine Queen”—at the center. Sangha is facing multiple charges, including conspiracy to distribute ketamine and possession with intent to distribute both ketamine and methamphetamine. Authorities linked the ketamine Sangha sold to Perry to a 2019 overdose death as well.
Erik Fleming, an acquaintance of Perry’s, has also been charged in connection with the case. Fleming admitted to obtaining ketamine from Sangha and distributing it to Iwamasa, with 50 vials being transferred just four days before Perry’s death.
Los Angeles Police Chief Dominic Choi expressed relief that the individuals responsible for supplying Perry with the deadly drug are now facing justice. “It’s a tragedy that brings us all here together,” Choi said during the press conference. “I’m happy to stand here knowing that these dangerous individuals are no longer on the streets and won’t be able to harm anyone else.”
Matthew Perry, a beloved actor best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom Friends, had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy for various mental health issues before his death. However, the autopsy report indicated that the ketamine found in his system was not from his last therapy session, which occurred more than a week before he passed away.
Perry’s death shocked fans and prompted an outpouring of tributes from his Friends co-stars and the broader entertainment industry. As the legal process unfolds, the case continues to shed light on the darker side of addiction and the dangers of illicit drug distribution.
