Five individuals have been charged in relation to the death of Matthew Perry, famed star of “Friends,” who passed away due to “the acute effects of ketamine” last October.

During a press conference on Thursday, Martin Estrada, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, revealed a surprising “number of charges against the five defendants.”

Among those charged are Salvador Plasencia, 42, a physician, and Jasveen Sangha, 41, known in the Department of Justice’s press release as North Hollywood’s “Ketamine Queen.” They face 18 criminal counts for allegedly providing ketamine to Perry during the weeks leading up to his death.

Perry’s live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, 59; Dr. Mark Chavez, 54; and Eric Fleming, 54, who was an acquaintance of Perry, are also named as co-conspirators in the case.

Iwamasa and Fleming admitted guilt earlier this month to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine; Fleming also pleaded guilty to a charge of distributing ketamine resulting in death. Chavez “has agreed to plead guilty to a count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine,” according to the Department of Justice.

Iwamasa could face up to 15 years in prison, while Fleming’s convictions could lead to a maximum of 25 years. Chavez is scheduled to be arraigned on August 30 and faces potential imprisonment of up to 10 years.

YSL News has reached out to Sangha’s attorney for comment, and there has been no update regarding Plasencia’s legal counsel.

US Attorney: ‘Defendants Attempted to Conceal Their Actions’

During the press conference, Estrada stated, “The defendants understood that their actions were wrong.”

He emphasized that ketamine “must be given under medical supervision, and the patient should be closely observed. This did not happen in this case,” Estrada remarked, noting that some defendants “attempted to hide their actions” following Perry’s death.

Estrada warned those who recklessly handle ketamine: “You are gambling with the lives of others, just like these five defendants did to Mr. Perry.”

Perry released his memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” in November 2022, detailing his rise to fame and his well-documented battle with addiction, which lasted for many years.

Details from Investigators on the Alleged Actions Leading to Matthew Perry’s Death

In a statement on Thursday, Anne Milgram, Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, indicated that the five defendants “were instrumental in (Perry’s) demise by improperly prescribing, selling, or injecting ketamine.”

“Matthew Perry’s troubles began with doctors who exploited their authority for profit, followed by street dealers who supplied ketamine in unmarked containers,” Milgram stated.

Investigators provided a timeline explaining the actions that led to Perry’s death in his Los Angeles home in October.

The Department of Justice’s news release specified that Plasencia learned in September 2023 that Perry wanted to acquire ketamine.

Subsequently, Plasencia contacted Chavez, who had previously managed a ketamine clinic, aiming to secure the drug to sell to Perry. Investigators allege that Plasencia texted Chavez phrases like, “I wonder how much this fool will pay” and “Let’s find out.”

Investigations revealed that on October 28, 2023 — the day Perry passed away — Iwamasa injected Perry with ketamine multiple times without the appropriate medical license. The ketamine that led to Perry’s death was allegedly sold by Fleming and Sangha, with proper equipment provided by Plasencia.

Plasencia reportedly provided the drug to Iwamasa, even though he had been alerted about Perry’s escalating ketamine addiction at least a week before his death. Following Perry’s death, Sangha reportedly messaged Fleming to “delete all our messages.”

Afterward, the Los Angeles Police Department executed a search warrant at Sangha’s residence, discovering evidence of drug trafficking, including around 79 vials of ketamine and other substances.

As per court documents reviewed by YSL News, U.S. attorneys lodged a complaint in March against Sangha for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. This case against her was updated with a new indictment, which was unveiled on Thursday, also including Plasencia.

Circumstances Surrounding Matthew Perry’s Passing

On October 28, 2023, at 4:07 p.m., the Los Angeles Fire Department was called to Perry’s home in Pacific Palisades, where they found “an adult male unconscious in a standalone jacuzzi.” He was declared dead by responders at 4:17 p.m.

“A quick medical assessment regrettably confirmed the man was already deceased before first responders arrived,” said Nicholas Prange, a spokesperson for the LAFD, in a statement on October 30.

In December, after more than a month following Perry’s passing, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office released his autopsy report, which was acquired by YSL News. His death was deemed an accident caused by “the acute effects of ketamine,” along with contributing factors including drowning, coronary artery disease, and the impact of buprenorphine.

Buprenorphine is described as “an opioid-like medication used for treating opioid addiction and for addressing both acute and chronic pain,” as per Perry’s 29-page autopsy report. The report also indicated there were no signs of “fatal trauma and no indications of foul play.”

Ketamine Found in Matthew Perry’s System Was Equivalent to Anesthetic Levels

Ketamine is categorized as a “dissociative anesthetic that also has hallucinogenic properties” and “can alter sensory perceptions,” according to the DEA’s website. The medical examiner reported that the concentration of ketamine found in Perry’s system reached levels as high as 3,540 nanograms per milliliter. “Typical levels associated with general anesthesia range between 1,000 to 6,000 ng/ml,” the report stated.

There were no medications or drugs found in proximity to the pool, as noted in the autopsy. Perry, who had been sober for 19 months prior to his death, did not have any alcohol or illegal substances like methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, or fentanyl in his system.

The report indicated that Perry was “believed to be undergoing ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety,” with his last session occurring approximately one and a half weeks before his passing. However, the report highlights that, “the ketamine present at the time of his death could not have come from that therapy, as the drug’s half-life is 3 to 4 hours or less.” It also stated that the method of how he took ketamine was not clear.

“At the extremely high levels of ketamine discovered in his postmortem blood samples, the primary harmful effects would arise from both cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory failure,” the report noted.

“Drowning is a factor given the possibility of submersion in the pool as he lost consciousness; coronary artery disease played a role due to the worsening of heart effects induced by ketamine.”