5 charged in Matthew Perry's death cover doctors, assistant, director, a drug dealer.

Five Charged in Connection to Matthew Perry's Death, Including 'Ketamine Queen'

California's Department of Justice has charged five people in connection to the death of actor Matthew Perry last October. Those charged include a former movie director, two doctors, his live-in assistant, and a drug dealer known as the "Ketamine Queen" of North Hollywood.

Perry, best known for his role on "Friends," was found unresponsive in a jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023. His death was confirmed to be caused by "the acute effects of ketamine," with contributing factors including drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine.

"It is a drug that must be administered by medical professionals, and the patient must be monitored closely. That did not occur here. You are playing roulette with other people's lives, just like these five defendants here did to Mr. Perry."
- Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California

The five defendants allegedly used encrypted messaging apps and coded language to discuss drug deals, referring to ketamine as "Dr. Pepper," "cans," and "bots."

Charges and Defendants:

• The DOJ has filed 18 criminal counts against physician Salvador Plasencia and Jasveen Sangha ("Ketamine Queen") for distributing ketamine to Perry.
• Three co-conspirators have pleaded guilty: live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, and Drs. Mark Chavez and Eric Fleming.
• Text messages reveal Plasencia's alleged greed and indifference toward Perry.
• Sangha allegedly used her home to store and distribute drugs like ketamine and methamphetamine.
• Eric Fleming, a former Hollywood moviemaker, purchased a ketamine sample from Sangha and has pleaded guilty. He faces 25 years.
• Chavez wrote a fraudulent prescription and has agreed to plead guilty. He faces up to 10 years.
• Iwamasa injected Perry with ketamine and has pleaded guilty. He faces up to 15 years.

---

URL references:

• https://www.youtube.com/embed/apwCI9XNybw?si=Lee3RQ62eQKus8Mv
• https://puzzles.usatoday.com/