- 5 charged in Matthew Perry's drug-related death
- Ketamine overdose caused actor's death, investigation finds
- Defendants accused of exploiting Perry's addiction for profit
A year after Matthew Perry’s tragic death, five individuals, including two doctors and the actor’s personal assistant, have been charged in connection with his passing. According to police, the investigation uncovered a vast underground network of drug suppliers who distributed large quantities of ketamine.
Perry, 54, died at his Los Angeles home in October, with a post-mortem examination revealing a high concentration of ketamine in his blood. US Attorney Martin Estrada stated, “These defendants took advantage of Mr. Perry’s addiction issues to enrich themselves. They knew what they were doing was risking great danger to Mr. Perry, but they did it anyway.”
Three defendants, including Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, have pleaded guilty to drug charges. Two others, Dr. Salvador Plasencia and Jasveen Sangha, known as “The Ketamine Queen,” were arrested on Thursday.
The indictment alleges that Iwamasa worked with two doctors to provide Perry with over $50,000 worth of ketamine in the weeks leading up to his death. Dr. Plasencia is accused of writing in a text message, “I wonder how much this moron will pay.”
Prosecutors claim that those involved in the scheme attempted to profit from Perry’s well-known substance abuse issues. The indictment details an elaborate drug purchasing scheme that ultimately led to Perry’s death.
Perry’s death was ruled an accident, with drowning listed as a contributing factor, along with coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine.
