LOS ANGELES – Five individuals, including two licensed doctors, have been charged in connection with the ketamine overdose that led to the death of actor Matthew Perry in October 2023. The charges, detailed in an 18-count superseding indictment unsealed on August 13, 2024, reflect a coordinated effort among the defendants to illegally supply Perry with ketamine, ultimately resulting in his tragic death.
Matthew Perry, known for his role in the hit TV show “Friends,” died on October 28, 2023, from acute ketamine toxicity at his Pacific Palisades home. On the day of his death, Perry received multiple ketamine injections from his personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, the amount of ketamine in Perry’s system was consistent with levels used for general anesthesia during surgery.
The investigation revealed that in the weeks leading up to Perry’s death, several individuals, including doctors and drug dealers, conspired to provide him with ketamine. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has charged five people, including the two doctors, with various crimes related to this conspiracy.
Charges Filed Against the Defendants
- Jasveen Sangha (41, a.k.a. “The Ketamine Queen”): Sangha, of North Hollywood, is charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine, maintaining a drug-involved premises, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and ketamine, and multiple counts of ketamine distribution. The indictment alleges that Sangha supplied the ketamine that directly led to Perry’s death on October 28, 2023.
- Dr. Salvador Plasencia (42, a.k.a. “Dr. P”): Plasencia, a physician based in Santa Monica, faces charges of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, seven counts of ketamine distribution, and two counts of altering and falsifying documents related to the federal investigation. Plasencia is accused of supplying ketamine to Perry and Iwamasa outside the usual course of professional practice, often without any legitimate medical purpose.
- Eric Fleming (54): Fleming, from Hawthorne, has already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Fleming admitted to obtaining ketamine from Sangha and providing it to Perry through Iwamasa, including a significant delivery just days before Perry’s death.
- Kenneth Iwamasa (59): Perry’s personal assistant, who lived with him in Toluca Lake, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death. Iwamasa confessed to repeatedly injecting Perry with ketamine, including on the day of Perry’s death, despite having no medical training.
- Dr. Mark Chavez (54): Chavez, a San Diego physician, has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Chavez allegedly sold ketamine to Plasencia by diverting it from his former ketamine clinic and obtaining additional supplies through fraudulent prescriptions.
The Conspiracy and Its Consequences
The indictment outlines a calculated and profit-driven conspiracy among the defendants to supply Matthew Perry with ketamine, a powerful anesthetic, despite the known risks and Perry’s history of addiction. This conspiracy unfolded in the weeks leading up to Perry’s death in October 2023.
Initial Contact and Planning: In late September 2023, Dr. Salvador Plasencia became aware that Perry was seeking ketamine for personal use. Rather than follow medical protocols, Plasencia saw an opportunity for financial gain. He reached out to Dr. Mark Chavez, who had previously operated a ketamine clinic, to obtain the drug. In their communications, Plasencia and Chavez discussed how much they could charge Perry, with Plasencia cynically referring to Perry as a “moron” and speculating on how much Perry would be willing to pay for the drug.
Distribution and Administration: From September through October 2023, Plasencia distributed ketamine to Perry on at least seven different occasions. These distributions were conducted outside the normal course of medical practice, often without any legitimate medical purpose or proper monitoring. Plasencia taught Perry’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, how to inject the drug, despite knowing that Iwamasa had no medical training. Plasencia even left vials of ketamine with Iwamasa for self-administration, further endangering Perry’s health. On one occasion, Plasencia personally injected Perry with ketamine inside a car parked in a Long Beach parking lot, without any of the necessary safety equipment to monitor the effects of the drug.
Role of Jasveen Sangha: Sangha, known as “The Ketamine Queen,” had been distributing ketamine and other drugs from her stash house in North Hollywood since at least 2019. She supplied additional ketamine to Iwamasa, who then administered the drug to Perry. Sangha was fully aware of the dangers of ketamine. In fact, in August 2019, she had sold ketamine to another individual, Cody McLaury, who died from an overdose shortly afterward. Despite being informed that her ketamine had caused McLaury’s death, Sangha continued to sell the drug. In the case of Perry, Sangha coordinated with Eric Fleming to distribute the drug, knowing that it could have deadly consequences.
Perry’s Final Hours: On October 28, 2023, Iwamasa injected Perry with the ketamine provided by Sangha and Fleming. This occurred after Iwamasa had been warned that Perry’s ketamine addiction was spiraling out of control. Perry received multiple injections on the day of his death, ultimately leading to his fatal overdose.
Aftermath and Cover-Up: Following Perry’s death, the defendants attempted to cover up their involvement. Sangha instructed Fleming to “delete all our messages” in an effort to erase evidence of their communications. Meanwhile, Plasencia provided federal investigators with altered medical records, falsely claiming that he had a legitimate treatment plan for Perry. However, these efforts to conceal their actions were unsuccessful. Federal agents executed search warrants at Sangha’s residence, where they uncovered significant evidence of drug trafficking, including 79 vials of ketamine, approximately 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine, and fraudulently obtained prescription drugs.
This conspiracy ultimately led to Matthew Perry’s tragic death, and the defendants now face severe legal consequences for their actions
Potential Sentences for Defendants in Matthew Perry Case
The five defendants involved face significant legal penalties if convicted:
- Jasveen Sangha: Faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, with a statutory maximum of life imprisonment.
- Dr. Salvador Plasencia: Faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each count related to ketamine distribution, and up to 20 years for each count of falsifying records.
- Eric Fleming: Faces up to 25 years in federal prison.
- Kenneth Iwamasa: Faces up to 15 years in federal prison.
- Dr. Mark Chavez: Faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
As with all criminal cases, it is important to note that an indictment contains only allegations. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
