The unexpected death of Matthew Perry in October 2023 shocked the world. The "Friends" star, who had openly battled substance abuse for years, was found unresponsive in his hot tub at his Los Angeles home. While his death was initially ruled an accident caused by the acute effects of ketamine, an investigation was launched to determine how he obtained the drug. That investigation has led to charges against five individuals in connection with Perry's death.
Jasveen Sangha: Known as the "Ketamine Queen," Jasveen Sangha has agreed to plead guilty to five federal criminal charges, including providing the ketamine that led to Perry's death. Sangha, a dual citizen of the United States and Britain, had been in federal custody since August 2024. According to her plea agreement, Sangha worked with Erik Fleming to sell 51 vials of ketamine to Perry's assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. The fatal dose was supplied from Sangha's stash. She faces a potential sentence of up to 45 years in prison.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia: Dr. Plasencia pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine in July 2025. He allegedly bought ketamine from Dr. Chavez and sold it to Perry at inflated prices. Text messages revealed Plasencia's callous attitude, with one message reading, "I wonder how much this moron will pay". Perry's assistant originally obtained ketamine for the actor from Dr. Plasencia.
Dr. Mark Chavez: Dr. Chavez admitted to conspiring to distribute ketamine to Perry. Some of the ketamine lozenges that Perry's assistant obtained were from a fraudulent prescription written by Dr. Chavez.
Kenneth Iwamasa: Perry's live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, was also charged in connection with the death. Iwamasa repeatedly injected Perry with ketamine supplied by Sangha, including at least three shots on the day of his death. He agreed to a plea deal in 2024 in exchange for his cooperation.
Erik Fleming: Erik Fleming acted as a middleman, delivering ketamine to Perry's assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. He allegedly delivered 25 vials of ketamine on October 14 and another 25 vials on October 24. Fleming also agreed to a plea deal in 2024 in exchange for his cooperation.
The investigation revealed a network of individuals involved in providing Matthew Perry with ketamine. Perry's assistant injected him six to eight times a day between October 24 and October 27, according to authorities. The medical examiner determined that ketamine was the primary cause of death. Other contributing factors included drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder.
These charges and guilty pleas mark a significant step in the investigation into Matthew Perry's death. While Perry had been working on his sobriety, the availability of ketamine ultimately led to his accidental overdose. The case highlights the dangers of substance abuse and the importance of holding those who contribute to such tragedies accountable.
