Five arrested in Matthew Perry’s overdose investigation including dealer known as Ketamine Queen

Five people, including two doctors, a live in assistant and an alleged dealer known as the ‘Ketamine Queen’, have been arrested in connection with the death of Matthew Perry.

The suspects were apprehended on Thursday over claims they are part of a ‘broad underground criminal network’ which supplied the Friends star the ketamine that killed him in October 2023.

Doctors Salvador Plascencia, 42, and Mark Chavez, 54, alleged drug dealer Jasveen Sangha, 41, otherwise known as the ‘Ketamine Queen’, Perry’s live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, 59, and drug dealer Eric Fleming, 54, have all been charged. 

Prosecutors say the group preyed on the vulnerable star’s addiction issues and referred to him as a ‘moron’ in cruel texts where they discussed how to further exploit him.

Perry was found unresponsive in the hot tub of his LA home last year, with his cause of death later determined to be ‘the acute effects of ketamine’. 

Five people including two doctors, a live in assistant and an alleged dealer known as the ‘Ketamine Queen’ have been arrested in connection with the death of Matthew Perry  

Jasveen Sangha, 41, is better known as the ‘Ketamine Queen’ of north Hollywood. Prosecutors say she is the lynch pin for a ‘broad underground criminal network’ which supplied the Friends star the ketamine that killed him in October 2023

Prosecutors claim that Sangha’s distribution of the substance on October 4, 2023 led to his death.

An explosive indictment alleges that the group made tens of thousands of dollars by selling the narcotic to the troubled star.

In one instance, they charged Perry $2,000 for a vial of ketamine that cost $12, after he became increasingly desperate to get his hands on the drug, according to the filings.

Text messages between the defendants show them conspiring to supply Perry, with Plascencia insisting that he wants to be the star’s ‘go to’ for the narcotic, the indictment shows.

In one message, prosecutors claim that Plasencia sent a message to Chavez asking, ‘I wonder how much this moron will pay’ in reference to Perry.

Among the accused are doctors Salvador Plascencia, 42, who is charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine

Perry’s former live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa was also charged and admitted to administering the fatal dose of ketamine which killed the Friends actor

Sangha and Plasencia have been charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.

Sangha is also accused of operating a ‘drugs emporium’, with approximately 79 vials of ketamine, along with more than three pounds of pills and prescription pills discovered at her home.

Plasencia is charged with seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of altering and falsifying documents or records related to the federal investigation. 

The other three defendants were charged separately and have pleaded guilty.

Fleming, of Hawthorne, admitted to obtaining the ketamine from Sangha and distributing it to Iwamasa, who admitted to administering it to the star, despite having no medical training. 

Jasveen Sangha, 41, otherwise known as the ‘Ketamine Queen’ of north Hollywood is also charged. Investigators said they discovered a ‘drugs emporium’ at her home during a raid in March 2024

Prosecutors say that Sangha’s distribution of ketamine on October 4, 2023 led to Perry’s death

Meanwhile in his plea agreement, San Diego doctor Chavez admitted to diverting supplies from his clinic, to Plascencia by filling out fake prescriptions.

‘These defendants cared more about profiting off of Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being,’ said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. 

‘Drug dealers selling dangerous substances are gambling with other people’s lives over greed. This case, along with our many other prosecutions of drug-dealers who cause death, send a clear message that we will hold drug-dealers accountable for the deaths they cause.’ 

If convicted of all charges, Sangha could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

The indictment alleges that the defendants sold Perry a vial of ketamine that costs $12 for $2,000 as he became increasingly dependent on the substance

Plasencia could face up to 10 years in federal prison for each ketamine-related count and up to 20 years in federal prison for each records falsification count.

Iwamasa and Fleming will face up to 15 years and 25 years, respectively, when they are sentenced in their federal cases.

Chavez has been charged in an information pursuant to a plea agreement and will be arraigned on August 30. At sentencing, Chavez will face up to 10 years in federal prison.

This is a developing story, check back for updates…