Authorities Arrest Several in Connection to Matthew Perry’s Death

Nearly one year ago, emergency services were called to the Pacific Palisades home of Friends star Matthew Perry. Perry’s assistant had found the actor unconscious in his hot tub and called 9-1-1, reporting that Perry had suffered from a cardiac event. First responders were at Perry’s home within minutes, but sadly, they were unable to revive him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Good Fight actor was just 54 years old.

Initial reports indicated that Perry tested negative for methamphetamine and fentanyl. However, about two months after Mr. Perry’s death, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner announced that the actor had died from the “acute effects” of ketamine — a powerful anesthetic drug with hallucinogenic properties.

The coroner’s report also listed other factors that contributed to Mr. Perry’s death, including drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is a narcotic that is used to help treat addiction.

Related: Report Claims LAPD Believes Actor Matthew Perry Was Killed to Keep Him Quiet

While Perry’s death was ultimately ruled accidental, questions immediately arose as to how he got his hands on the ketamine that ultimately killed him. He had been using ketamine under the guidance of a licensed therapist. However, the amount he had in his system at the time of his death indicated that he was illegally obtaining more ketamine and was not taking that under a doctor’s supervision.

About six months after Perry’s death, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration announced that they were launching a joint investigation into Perry’s death. They were determined to find out how Perry got the ketamine that ended up killing him and hold those who supplied him responsible.

Now, just three months after that investigation was launched, multiple people have been arrested in connection with Mr. Perry’s sudden and tragic death. This includes his assistant, multiple doctors, and a so-called “Ketamine Queen”.

On Thursday, August 15, the Department of Justice held a press conference and gave more details about the arrests and the charges. Per Entertainment Weekly:

Five individuals have been indicted and charged with providing the ketamine that caused Perry’s death in October. They include the actor’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa; two doctors, Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez; Erik Fleming, an acquaintance of Perry’s; and Jasveen Sangha, a North Hollywood resident who prosecutors said is known as “the Ketamine Queen.”

The charges against them include conspiracy to distribute ketamine; distribution of ketamine resulting in death; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; maintaining drug-involved premises; and altering and falsifying records related to a federal investigation.

United States Attorney Martin Estrada said that Mr. Perry trusted the people who ended up killing him. He said that everyone arrested cared more about profiting off of Perry’s addiction instead of trying to help him. Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, has already pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, resulting in death.

Iwamasa is not the only person who has already pleaded guilty to the charges against them.

Dr. Chavez, of San Diego, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. He admitted to selling ketamine to Dr. Plasencia, including some he had diverted from his former ketamine clinic, officials said. Chavez also obtained ketamine by making false representations to a wholesale ketamine distributor and submitting a fraudulent prescription in the name of a former patient, officials said.

Fleming pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death, officials said, adding that he admitted to obtaining the ketamine from Sangha and distributing 50 vials of ketamine to Iwamasa, half of which he obtained four days before Perry’s death.

Related: Actress Named in Connection to Matthew Perry’s Sudden Death

Some of the key evidence used to arrest Dr. Chavez and Plasencia were texts between the two. They had conversations about purchasing ketamine to give to “M.P.” Doctors all take an oath to do no harm, but these two “doctors” didn’t care about how deadly this drug was and the fact that Perry was clearly suffering from a severe relapse.

Instead, they insulted Mr. Perry. Their text messages refer to the actor as a “moron,” and they discuss how much money they could get out of him. They also discussed deleting text messages and falsifying medical records to make their transactions look legitimate.

As part of their investigation, authorities spoke to Two and a Half Men star Charlie Sheen’s ex-wife, Brooke Mueller. Mueller and Perry had allegedly met in rehab and formed a friendship. Mueller was cooperative and allowed police to inspect her personal cellphone and laptop. A second celebrity was also investigated, but they were not named.

At this time, we do not know what punishment those who pleaded guilty will face. They could be sentenced to time in prison, especially the doctors who supplied Perry with the drugs and then forged medical records.

Disney Dining will keep readers updated as more information is released.

Do you think those who have been arrested and pled guilty to their roles in Matthew Perry’s death should be put in prison? Let us know in the comments!