Authorities announced on Thursday that charges have been filed against five people in connection with the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry.
The defendants are Jasveen Sangha, 41; Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 42; Dr. Mark Chavez, 54; Eric Fleming, 54; and Kenneth Iwamasa, 59.
Perry was found dead in a hot tub at his California home in October 2023. An autopsy report concluded his death was due to the acute effects of ketamine. While Perry had previously undergone ketamine treatment for depression, the medical examiner concluded that the drugs in his system were from recreational use based on the timing of his last treatment session.
Here’s what we know about those charged in Perry’s death:
Dr. Salvador Plasencia
A physician, Plasencia had previously applied for a license from the Drug Enforcement Administration to dispense and prescribe controlled substances for legitimate medical purposes. But court documents allege that Plasencia, 42, acted outside the scope of professional practice to distribute ketamine and also taught Perry’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, how to inject the drug.
Plasencia is accused of facilitating the transfer of drugs from himself and other defendants to Iwamasa.
According to the indictment, Plasencia exchanged text messages with others involved in the drug sales, sending ones that said: “I wonder how much this moron will pay” and “Lets find out.”
Plasencia is facing 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. If convicted, he faces 10 years for each ketamine-related charge and 20 for each falsification charge.
He pleaded not guilty Thursday.
Kenneth Iwamasa
Iwamasa, 59, was Perry’s live-in personal assistant and the person who found Perry in the hot tub. Iwamasa had no medical training.
Investigators said Iwamasa was the one who injected Perry with ketamine on multiple occasions despite his lack of training.
Iwamasa pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death and admitted to repeatedly injecting Perry, including multiple injections on the day Perry died.
If convicted, Iwamasa faces up to 15 years in prison.
Jasveen Sangha
Sangha, also known as the “Ketamine Queen,” operated a stash house and distributed ketamine and other illegal drugs, prosecutors said. Her home is believed to be the distribution point for the dose that ultimately killed Perry.
Sangha, 41, was arrested Thursday and 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.
Sangha pleaded not guilty on Thursday. If convicted, she faces a possible sentence of 10 years to life in prison.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California said Sangha had also sold ketamine to a man named Cody McLaury in 2019, who died of an overdose only hours later.
Dr. Mark Chavez
Chavez, like Plasencia, had applied for a DEA license to prescribe controlled substances for medical use. And, like Sangha, he is accused of obtaining ketamine distributed by other defendants.
He also had former connections to a legitimate ketamine clinic, according to the U.S. attorney’s office.
Chavez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. In his plea agreement, he admitted to diverting the drug from his former clinic, making false representations to a wholesale ketamine dealer, and submitting a fraudulent prescription in the name of a former patient.
If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison.
Eric Fleming
Fleming was described by investigators as an acquaintance of Perry’s. He allegedly helped obtain ketamine and distributed it to Perry, including giving Iwamasa 50 vials of ketamine, half of which were delivered four days before Perry’s death.
He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death.
If convicted, Fleming faces 25 years in prison.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.