Matthew Perry death inquest reveals: ‘Ketamine Queen’ and cover-up attempts

An investigation into the death of Matthew Perry, one of the actors in the popular TV series Friends, has uncovered a large ketamine trafficking network.

The actor, best known for his role as Chandler Bing in the series, is facing various charges in connection with his death. The defendants include two doctors and Perry’s assistant.

When Perry was found dead in the hot tub of her Los Angeles home last year, it was thought to be an accident. She appeared to have drowned.

Perry, who was receiving ketamine infusion therapy for depression, was found without any drugs or anything indicating foul play.

The actor, who spent decades battling addiction, said he was finally free of addiction.

As fans mourn the loss of the actor who played Chandler Bing on Friends, the medical examiner made a strange discovery: He had high levels of ketamine in his blood — a level that’s only used for general anesthesia during surgery.

Perry’s last ketamine infusion was more than a week ago, so he shouldn’t have had such high levels in his system.

The nearly year-long investigation following Perry’s death uncovered a vast underground ketamine trafficking network, several cover-ups and another death, according to U.S. prosecutors.

Five people were arrested, including doctors, Perry’s assistant and a dealer known locally as the “Ketamine Queen.”

His assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death, while two others, Eric Fleming and Dr. Mark Chavez, were also found guilty of conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs.

Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who is accused of providing ketamine to Perry, is accused of falsifying records. The alleged dealer, Jasveen Sangha, faces nine charges, including conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death.

Both pleaded not guilty in court on Thursday.

‘Ketamine Queen’ and ‘drug dealing’ house

The woman, Jasveen Sangha, kept coming up in the investigation.

Authorities allege that Sangha, known as the “Ketamine Queen,” supplied the drugs that led to Perry’s death on October 28, 2023.

The 41-year-old woman is accused of selling 50 vials of ketamine to Perry for about $11,000, which prosecutors describe as a drug trafficker who knew the ketamine she distributed could be deadly.

Sangha’s North Hollywood home was a “drug outlet,” said Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, at a press conference announcing the arrests.

A search of the home allegedly found more than 80 bottles of ketamine, as well as thousands of pills containing methamphetamine, cocaine, Xanax and a gun.

The indictment stated that “Sangha’s Stash House” packaged and distributed drugs, mostly for the rich and famous.

According to the indictment, Sangha “only dealt with high-ranking individuals and celebrities.”

The prosecutor alleged that Sangha was “a significant source of ketamine to Matthew Perry as well as others.”

Doctors and dealers ‘exploited’ Perry

Delving deeper into addiction and seeking more ketamine at lower prices, Perry turned to street dealers as well as select suppliers, according to authorities.

Prosecutor Estrada said those accused in the case took advantage of him.

Dr. Plasencia wrote in one message, “I wonder how much this moron is going to pay?” and in another, she said she wanted to be Perry’s “go-to guy for drugs.”

Perry allegedly paid them around $2,000 for bottles that were actually around $12 apiece.

“These defendants were not concerned with Perry’s well-being; they were more concerned with profiting off of him,” Estrada said.

Authorities say Perry purchased 20 vials of ketamine from Dr. Plasencia for a total of $55,000 between September and October 2023.

Dr. Plasencia also taught his assistant, Iwamasa, how to inject the drug despite knowing “Perry’s ketamine addiction was out of control,” according to investigators.

Authorities say the doctor once witnessed Perry “freeze” while administering the drug, but then administered more ketamine.

Alleged cover-up attempts and discovery of second death

Investigators say that in the wake of Perry’s death, those accused of supplying him with drugs attempted to conceal their actions.

Investigators say Sangha sent a message to another suspect saying “delete all our messages.”

Fleming allegedly sent Sangha the following message: “Please call… I have more information and would like to hear from you. I am 90 percent sure everyone is protected. I [Perry ile hiç] “I did not have any contact with him, I only spoke to his assistant. In other words, his assistant was a facilitator.”

Fleming also asked Sangha if the ketamine “stayed in your system or was it flushed right out,” according to court documents.

Authorities say they used coded language, calling ketamine “Dr. Pepper,” “bots” or “boxes.”

Dr. Plasencia allegedly falsified medical records in an attempt to legitimize the drugs given to the actor.

Authorities also revealed that Sangha was also linked to another overdose death in 2019.

According to court documents, Sangha knew about the dangers of ketamine after selling drugs to Cody McLaury, who died of an overdose.

A family member had sent him a message saying, “The ketamine you sold to my brother killed him. This is the cause of death.”

Investigators say days later, Sangha searched Google with the question, “Can ketamine be listed as a cause of death?”

According to authorities, Sangha will face charges in the case.

His assistant injected the actor with ketamine multiple times a day

Perry’s live-in assistant, Iwamasa, was the one who found the actor dead.

Investigators say he was the one who injected Perry with the ketamine that led to his death.

According to court documents, Iwamasa had no medical training and “knew little” about administering controlled substances.

Prosecutors say Iwamasa administered more than 20 ketamine shots in the four days leading up to Perry’s death, including three on the day the actor died.

He was charged in July with conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury. Iwamasa pleaded guilty.

Investigators say ketamine can only be administered by a doctor and patients taking the drug should be monitored by a professional because of possible harmful effects.

On October 10, weeks before Perry’s death, Dr. Plasencia allegedly purchased 10 vials of ketamine from his accomplice, Dr. Mark Chavez, to sell to Perry.

Authorities say Dr. Plasencia later met with Perry and Iwamasa in a public parking lot, where the doctor injected the actor with ketamine while he was inside a vehicle.

Two days later, Perry allegedly injected herself with a high dose of a drug at her home that caused her to “freeze” and raise her blood pressure.

Dr. Plasencia told the assistant, “Let’s not do this again,” but allegedly left her more bottles.

Perry’s legacy: Hope to help others

Perry has been open about his substance abuse, describing his decades-long struggles with alcohol and drugs in his 2022 memoir.

He wrote that his co-star Jennifer Anniston warned him about the smell of alcohol on his breath and that he spent millions to stay sober.

He said he hopes his candor on the subject will help others struggling with addiction.

His posthumous Matthew Perry Foundation homepage features his words: “When I die, I want the first thing that is talked about to be helping others.”

The arrests and public details of this high-profile case will help others and prevent deaths, just as Perry wanted, said Anne Milgram, director of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, on Thursday.