Five people have been arrested in connection with the death of Friends actor Matthew Perry, including his personal assistant and two of his doctors.
US federal authorities held a press conference in Los Angeles on Thursday (August 15), stating that their investigation had uncovered a “broad criminal network” of ketamine suppliers that “took advantage” of Perry’s addiction issues.
The actor was found dead at his Los Angeles home on October 28, aged 54. An autopsy report ruled his manner of death to be accidental, and showed that he died from the acute effects of ketamine, with contributing factors including drowning.
The police launched a criminal investigation into Perry’s death back in May, and stated they were working with federal authorities to pinpoint the source of the ketamine the 54-year-old actor had consumed.
Now, it has been confirmed that five defendants have been charged in connection with the death, with the Department of Justice listing Jasveen Sangha, who is also known as the ‘Ketamine Queen’, Dr. Mark Chavez and Dr. Salvador Plasencia, as well as Perry’s personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa and another individual, Erik Fleming.
Sangha is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute ketamine and five counts of distribution of ketamine.
Plasencia is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of altering and falsifying documents or records related to the federal investigation.
Fleming has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death, admitting in court documents that he distributed the ketamine that killed Perry. He admits he obtained the drug from Sangha and distributed 50 vials to Iwamasa, half of them four days before Perry’s death.
Iwamasa has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death and admitted repeatedly injecting Perry with the drug without the appropriate training, including multiple injections the day he died.
Chavez has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and admitted agreeing to sell the drug to Plasencia, some of which he diverted from his former clinic.
Investigators claim that Perry purchased 20 vials of ketamine for $55,000 (£42,800), and say that Plasencia wrote in a text, “I wonder how much this moron will pay”. They also claim that Plasencia said he wanted to be Perry’s “go-to for drugs”.
They also claimed that after Perry’s death, Sangha sent a message to another suspect, telling him to “delete all our messages”.
At the press conference, Martin Estrada, US Attorney for the Central District of California, said they had uncovered what amounted to “a drug selling emporium”, finding 80 vials of ketamine as well as cocaine and pills, with the defendants using coded language such as “Doctor Pepper” and “cans” to refer to the illegal substances.
Los Angeles Police Chief Dominic Choi said they had let facts drive their investigation and thanked the relevant authorities for their assistance. “You cannot get away with this regardless of your background or socioeconomic status,” he said.
Anne Milgram, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, said that Perry’s addiction had led him to a street dealer, who in turn connected him with Sangha, who sold him 50 vials of ketamine. Milgram added that Perry’s desperation was met not with help but exploitation.
At the time of his death, Perry was receiving ketamine infusion therapy, which is said to help with depression, anxiety, PTSD and addiction problems. He suffered from severe addictions to drugs and alcohol for the majority of his life.
However, his last therapy session reportedly took place just over a week before his death, and the autopsy stated that: “The ketamine in his system at death could not be from that infusion therapy since ketamine’s half-life is three to four hours or less.”
It had previously been reported earlier in the day that one arrest had been made in Southern California.
Back in June, the LAPD said that “multiple people” could be charged in relation to Perry’s drug-induced death, with two female celebrities being linked to the incident by the media.
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