Matthew Perry allegedly began buying drugs from a suspected drug dealer nicknamed ‘Ketamine Queen of Los Angeles’ David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images Perry pictured with his assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, and a friend on February 24, 2023 BackGrid Matthew Perry’s assistant was spotted for the first time since the star’s death on November 9, 2023 Mega A massive amount of drugs were found in Jasveen Sangha’s North Hollywood home on March 19, 2024 United States District Court
Perry, 54, turned to the accused drug peddler, Jasveen Sangha after the ketamine he was purchasing from doctors got too expensive.
Sangha, who lives in North Hollywood, sold ketamine and other drugs and provided Perry’s assistant with the dose that ultimately led to his death , according to an 18-count indictment.
She was first arrested in March, in connection with a separate federal drug case but was released from custody after posting a bond of $100,000, court records revealed.
At the time, Perry’s death was ruled an accidental overdose , but in May, the Los Angeles Police Department announced it was working with federal authorities to investigate the source of the ketamine Perry had taken.
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.
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.
Perry’s family has welcomed the news of the arrests.
“We were and still are heartbroken by Matthew’s death, but it has helped to know law enforcement has taken his case very seriously,” the family said in a statement. “We look forward to justice taking its course.”
In a press conference on Thursday , US attorney Martin Estrada said a Department of Justice investigation had revealed a “broad underground criminal network,” including Perry’s assistant and doctors, who conspired to take “advantage of the sitcom star’s addictions by selling him ketamine.”
In a text message from one of the defendants, they spoke mockingly of Perry and the ketamine they were selling him, writing: “I wonder how much this moron will pay.”
Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s assistant, injected the actor with ketamine on the day he died, according to the indictment.
That syringe was provided by Salvador Plasencia, a doctor who had supplied the drug to Perry and Iwamasa in the past.
Dr. Mark Chavez is also included in the indictments for providing the ketamine to Plasencia.
Chavez operated a ketamine clinic and used his position as a doctor to submit fraudulent prescriptions.
He had illegally obtained the drug from his former clinic and used a patient’s name for a fake prescription without their consent.
The last defendant charged in the case is Eric Fleming, who distributed the 50 vials of ketamine to Perry’s assistant from Sangha.
Matthew Perry shared a photo on social media of himself enjoying a late-night swim in his pool days before his death Instagram/MatthewPerry Jasveen Sangha’s North Hollywood apartment, where investigators found a cache of drugs BackGrid Fleming sent a photo of the ketamine vials to Iwamasa saying Sangha wouldn’t sell them for less than $250 U.S. Attorney’s Office for Central District of California Iwamasa paid Plasencia around $21,500 in cash for the ketamine U.S. Attorney’s Office for Central District of California
‘DELETE ALL OUR MESSAGES’
Plasencia allegedly learned that Perry was interested in obtaining the drug in September 2023.
Plasencia then contacted Chevaz and the two conspired to sell Perry the drug.
The doctors distributed ketamine to Perry’s assistant, Iwamasa without a legitimate medical purpose.
Plasencia taught Iwamasa how to inject the ketamine, which he continued to do without safety equipment.
The Justice Department cited one instance when Iwamasa injected Perry in a parked car in Long Beach.
In October 2023, Fleming and Sangha were brought into the operation.
Fleming coordinated the drug deals with Sangha and acted as the middleman between the two.
On October 24, Fleming texted Iwamasa that the ketamine was “on its way to our girl,” about Sangha.
Iwamasa bought 25 vials of ketamine from Fleming and Sangha.
Four days later, Iwamasa injected Perry with the ketamine multiple times, ultimately leading to his death.
After Perry’s death was reported in the news, Sangha texted Fleming, “Delete all our messages.”
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.
CHARGES FILED
Sangha and Plascencia were arrested on Thursday and charged with distributing ketamine to Perry in the final weeks of his life.
They were both arrested and face charges related to distributing ketamine.
“Drug dealers selling dangerous substances are gambling with other people’s lives over greed,” Estrada said.
“This case, along with our many other prosecutions of drug-dealers who cause death, send a clear message that we will hold drug-dealers accountable for the deaths they cause.”
Fleming, Iwamasa, and Chavez are charged separately for their involvement in Perry’s death.
Fleming is facing charges for distributing 50 vials of ketamine to Iwamasa, half of which were right before his death.
Iwamasa pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute ketamine causing death on August 7.
Chavez pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute ketamine and admitted to making false representations to a wholesale distributor.
SANGHA’S REIGN OF TERROR
Authorities were able to use their findings in Perry’s case to connect Sangha to a separate death.
In August 2019, Sangha allegedly sold a man named Cody McLaury ketamine just hours before his overdose death.
The Justice Department found that one of McLaury’s family members then texted Sangha accusing her of killing him.
After receiving the text, Sangha allegedly searched on Google, “Can ketamine be listed as a cause of death?”
The medical examiner’s toxicology report at the time found that the levels of ketamine in his bloodstream could have heightened the risk of “cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression.”
Perry shot to household fame in the 1990s as Chandler Bing in the globally-successful sitcom Friends.
The actor was found dead in his hot tub on October 28, 2023 MiS - Commissioned by The US Sun Digital edition US attorney Martin Estrada revealed the ‘criminal network’ that supplied Perry with ketamine Reuters
Investigation into Matthew Perry's death
The U.S. Sun previously reported that authorities probing Matthew Perry's death will look to the death investigations of rapper Mac Miller and Michael Jackson when considering criminal charges.
Perry’s autopsy revealed he had died from the acute effects of ketamine and drowning.
Perry had been receiving ketamine infusion therapy to treat depression.
He was found to have similar levels of the drug in his system as a hospital patient under general anesthetic.
His last drug therapy session was more than a week before he was discovered dead.
Criminal Investigation
A criminal investigation was launched by the LAPD in December to determine how Perry obtained the drugs.
The investigation is ongoing.
Those targeted by investigators could include doctors who may have written Perry an under-the-table prescription.
It also includes drug dealers, friends, or associates who facilitated any illicit transaction.
Tre Lovell, a veteran entertainment attorney
Lovell spoke to The U.S. Sun and likened the Perry probe to the investigations into the drug deaths of Michael Jackson and Mac Miller.
He warned there could be significant prison time for anyone found culpable in the actor’s death.
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