As a gamer who has spent countless hours immersed in virtual worlds, I can’t help but draw parallels between the game of life and the tragic tale unfolding around Matthew Perry. The characters in this real-life drama are as complex and intriguing as any video game NPCs (Non-Player Characters), each with their own motivations, flaws, and roles.
Five individuals, including Matthew Perry’s live-in assistant, two medical professionals, and a woman known as the “ketamine queen,” are among those indicted and accused in the investigation surrounding Perry’s death. This probe uncovered an extensive underground criminal network, according to a joint statement from law enforcement agencies during a press conference held in Los Angeles on Thursday.
41-year-old Jasveen Sangha, often referred to as the “ketamine queen,” along with Salvador Plasencia, also known as “Dr. P,” who practiced at an urgent care center, stand as the principal defendants in this case. Sangha is alleged to have operated a secret cache of illicit substances in North Hollywood, which was uncovered during a raid in March, as stated in an updated indictment filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. They are being charged with conspiring to distribute ketamine, distributing ketamine that led to someone’s death, intending to distribute methamphetamine, altering and falsifying records relevant to a federal investigation, among other offenses. Both were apprehended and taken into custody on Thursday morning, as per the authorities.
In August, the assistant of the former “Friends” star, Kenneth Iwamasa, along with Eric Fleming, a friend of Perry’s and a known street drug dealer, and another doctor, Mark Chavez, agreed to lesser charges during their court appearances. According to authorities who spoke on Thursday, from September 2023 until his death on Oct. 28, 2023, this trio had been working together to supply Perry with approximately 20 vials of ketamine for $55,000. The scheme involved Dr. Chavez obtaining the ketamine, which was then passed on to Iwamasa, who administered it to Perry.
At a press conference on Thursday, Estrada stated that these defendants exploited Mr. Perry’s struggles with addiction for their own financial gain. He emphasized that they were fully aware of the immorality of their actions and the potential danger they posed to Mr. Perry. Despite this knowledge, they chose to proceed, prioritizing their profits over the well-being of Mr. Perry.
Over two weeks in October, I’m accused of moving around about 50 vials of ketamine for roughly $11,000 in cold hard cash. I was teaming up with an assistant from Fleming and Perry to spread the ketamine. When authorities dug through our phones, they found text messages hidden within encrypted apps like Signal, revealing a network we’d built that apparently led to Perry’s demise.
The investigation initiated in May involves detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Postal Service. They are following the actor’s acquisition of an illicit substance that, while historically used for recreational purposes, has recently been found to be beneficial in treating depression.
On October 28, 2023, Perry was discovered deceased at his Pacific Palisades residence, having tragically drowned in his hot tub swimming pool. It appears that a lethal dose of ketamine led to excessive cardiovascular stimulation and respiratory depression within his body, as reported by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office. The quantity of ketamine detected in his bloodstream was similar to what is typically used during general anesthesia, according to the medical examiner.
On Thursday, Estrada stated that Sangha was the one who sold the lethal batch of ketamine, which ultimately led to Perry’s demise. As per the charges against her, authorities conducted a search at her L.A. residence and uncovered what essentially functioned as a “drug-selling emporium.” During the search, they discovered 80 vials of ketamine, 1,000 pills laced with methamphetamine, cocaine, bottles filled with Xanax and other prescription drugs illegally obtained, according to Estrada’s report to reporters. Furthermore, a ledger containing names and weights was found in her residence, Estrada mentioned.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has additionally brought forth a drug distribution charge linked to the demise of Cody McClellan, a 33-year-old who passed away following the purchase of a lethal narcotic from Sangha in 2019. However, despite this unfortunate incident, Sangha persisted in distributing vast quantities of diverse illegal drugs, according to Estrada during the press conference.
The defendants are said to have made an effort to hide their actions following the news of Perry’s demise. Subsequently, it is claimed that Plasencia altered medical documents and notes to justify his conduct related to the celebrity.
54-year-old Fleming confessed last Thursday to conspiring to distribute ketamine and for distributing ketamine that led to a death. In court records, he admitted to providing the lethal dose of ketamine to Sangha and distributing 50 vials of ketamine to Iwamasa.
59-year-old Iwamasa confessed on August 7 to conspiring to distribute ketamine, a substance that led to someone’s death. In court, he admitted to repeatedly injecting Perry with this drug and stated that his only medical experience came from instructions provided by Dr. Plasencia; he performed several injections on Perry on the day the actor passed away.
54-year-old Chavez admitted his guilt in a single count of conspiring to distribute ketamine. In his plea agreement, he acknowledges that he sold ketamine to Plasencia, some of which was diverted from a clinic he previously owned. Furthermore, he made false claims to a large-scale ketamine supplier and used a fake prescription for ketamine lozenges under the name of an ex-patient.
Following his passing, it was verified that Perry had been receiving ketamine treatment. Notably, his last therapy session had taken place around a week and a half prior to his death, as mentioned in the medical examiner’s report. No other substances were detected in Perry’s body, and no drug-related items were uncovered within his residence, as authorities stated.
In his autobiographical book titled “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing“, Perry recounted his experience with ketamine treatment. “Frequently,” he stated, “I felt as though I was on the verge of death during that time period. ‘This must be what dying feels like,’ I thought to myself. However, despite these apprehensions, I kept returning for this treatment because it offered a change, and in my view, anything novel is beneficial.”
He stated, “Experiencing K feels similar to getting struck on the head by a massive joyful spade. Yet, the aftermath was harsh and overpowered the pleasure of the spade. Ketamine didn’t suit my preferences.”
Perry, in the open, shared his prolonged battles with alcohol and opioid addiction, detailing in his 2022 memoir that at the peak of his addiction, while starring on the beloved NBC sitcom, he was consuming approximately 55 Vicodin pills daily.
Based on the autopsy report following his demise, it was known that a psychiatrist and an anesthesiist, who additionally functioned as Perry’s primary care provider, were the medical experts taking care of Perry in October. Neither of these professionals were mentioned in the indictments that were made public on Thursday.
This story was first published on Aug. 15 at 7:37 a.m.
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2024-08-16 00:56