Investigations into the death of Matthew Perry lead to charges against five people and arrest of two doctors

Following the death of actor Matthew Perry in October 2023, authorities launched a criminal investigation. On Thursday, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada announced during a press conference in Los Angeles that several arrests had been made as a result.

According to Deadline, the defendants include two doctors, a domestic worker and a woman nicknamed the “Ketamine Queen.” Police allege that all five defendants are part of a “wide underground criminal network” that illegally supplied Perry and others with ketamine, the drug used to Friends Death of the actor. Estrada said those arrested “took advantage of Mr. Perry's addiction problems to enrich themselves,” referring to the popular television star's well-known struggle with addiction.

Jasveen Sangha, known as the “Ketamine Queen”, and Dr. Salvador Plasencia, nicknamed “Dr. P”, were arrested; they are scheduled to go to court on Thursday. One man, Eric Fleming, pleaded guilty on August 8 to distribution of ketamine, He confessed to distributing the ketamine that killed Perry. Dr. Mark Chavez also allegedly admitted to selling ketamine from his former clinic to Plasencia. Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry's assistant who lives with him, is said to have conspired with Sangha, Fleming and Plasencia to illegally Obtaining and distributing ketamine to the actor.

Matthew Perry was allegedly injected with ketamine several times on the day of his death

Estrada claims that Perry was supplied with a large amount of ketamine without any consideration for his health. It is alleged that the doctors who supplied Perry with the drug communicated in text messages about how much the wealthy Friends Star would have been willing to pay. On the day of his death, according to prosecutors, Perry received several injections from his assistant. Of all five defendants, Estrada argued: “They knew what they were doing was wrong.”

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The investigation is ongoing, and as it continues, more people could be charged soon. A police official told Deadline shortly before the announcement: “It's very difficult to reconstruct this case. What happened today and what will be announced… there will likely be more arrests later.”

Perry was found unconscious in his hot tub on October 28, 2023. When emergency responders arrived at the scene, he was pronounced dead, although it was not immediately clear what had happened to Perry. It was later determined that the “acute effects of ketamine” had led to his death, along with drowning, coronary heart disease and the effects of the opioid addiction drug buprenorphine. In May, it was confirmed that a criminal investigation had been launched into Perry's death.

“Based on the medical examiner's findings, the Los Angeles Police Department, with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Postal Inspection Service, has continued its investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Perry's death,” the LAPD said in a statement at the time.

Source: Deadline

Friends

Follow Chandler, Joey, Monica, Phoebe, Rachel and Ross, friends living in the New York City borough of Manhattan.

Release date

22 September 1994

Pour

David Schwimmer, Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, Courtney Cox

Main genre

comedy

Seasons

10 seasons

Creator

David Crane, Marta Kauffman

Production company

Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, Warner Bros. Television

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