Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry’s addiction was well documented. He wrote about it in his book “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing” published in November 2022.
The story takes readers from his childhood to fame to addiction and recovery in the aftermath of a life-threatening health scare. Before the frequent hospital visits and stints in rehab, Perry wrote about his life. The book has been called “a hand extended to anyone struggling with sobriety.”
Perry died in his hot tub on October 28, 2023, from an overdose of ketamine, injected by his personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa. The Friends star lived in Pacific View Estates in Pacific Palisades.
On August 30, Dr. Mark Chavez, 54, of San Diego was charged in Los Angeles Federal Court in connection with Perry’s death. He was the third person in this case to plead guilty.
Chavez, who received his medical degree from UCLA, also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors as they pursue Dr. Salvador Plasencia, the doctor Chavez worked with to sell ketamine to Perry.
Kenneth Iwamasa
Also cooperating with the U.S. Attorney’s Office are Perry’s assistant, Iwamasa, who admitted helping Perry obtain and also injected ketamine, and Erik Fleming, a Perry acquaintance, who admitted acting as a drug messenger and middleman with Jasveen Sangha, a woman who authorities say is a dealer who sold the actor the lethal dose of ketamine.
Ketamine is used medically as an anesthetic. Although not FDA-approved for treating any psychiatric disorder, it has been used in pain management, addressing treatment-resistant depression and managing suicidal thoughts.
Perry had been treated with ketamine infusion therapy, but the levels found in his blood were in the range used for general anesthesia during surgery and not from therapy.
Five people have been charged in connection with Perry’s death.
“These defendants took advantage of Mr. Perry’s addiction issues to enrich themselves. They knew what they were doing was wrong,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said when he announced the charges on August 15.
THE PLAYERS:
Erik Fleming, 54, was described as a friend of Perry’s. Fleming was able to get 50 vials of ketamine from drug dealer Jasveen Sangha, who was known as the “Ketamine Queen.” He gave the vials to Kenneth Iwamasa.
Kenneth Iwamasa, 59, worked as Perry’s live-in assistant. He admitted injecting Perry with the drug.
Dr. Mark Chavez
Dr. Mark Chavez, who used to run a ketamine clinic, sold ketamine that he had previously obtained by writing a fraudulent prescription to Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who then sold it to Iwamasa. Clinics typically treat chronic pain, depression and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) .
Fleming, Iwamasa and Chavez have pled guilty and all face jail time but are cooperating with authorities.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia and Jasveen Sangha have pled not guilty.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia
Santa Monica Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 42, who graduated from UCLA, was 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.
Plasencia’s attorney said, “Ultimately, Dr. Plasencia was operating with what he thought were the best of medical intentions,” and his actions “certainly didn’t rise to the level of criminal misconduct. His only concern was to give the best medical treatment and to do no harm,” said Stefan Sacks. “Unfortunately, harm was done. But it was after his involvement,” as quoted by the Associated Press.
Jasveen Sangha
Jasveen Sangha, 41, was called the “Ketamine Queen” in court filings. She was 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.
A status conference in the case against Sangha and Plasencia is scheduled for September 4 before U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett in Federal Court in downtown Los Angeles.