Five people have been charged in connection to Matthew Perry’s death last year
Matthew Perry’s step-dad has issued a statement after it was announced that five people have been charged in connection with the actor’s death.
The Friends actor was found ‘unconscious in a stand-alone Jacuzzi’ at his Los Angeles home on 28 October 2023, aged 54. The autopsy revealed that Perry died from the acute effects of ketamine.
On Thursday (15 August) we learnt that there had been a ‘broad underground criminal network responsible for distributing large quantities of ketamine to Mr Perry and others’.
United States Attorney, Martin Estrada, told a press conference that ‘this network included a live-in assistant, various go-betweens, two medical doctors and a major source of drug supply known as the ketamine queen’.
Licensed physician Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 42 and alleged drug dealer Jasveen Sangha, 41, were arrested on Thursday.
“The superseding indictment alleges that Sangha’s distribution of ketamine on October 24, 2023, caused Perry’s death,” the US Attorney’s Office said.
“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.”
Five people have been charged in connection to Matthew Perry’s death last year. (David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
One of the three other defendants, who were charged separately earlier this month, has been named as Erik Fleming, 54, of Hawthorne, who admitted in court documents that he distributed the ketamine that killed Perry.
Perry’s live-in personal Kenneth Iwamasa, 59, of Toluca Lake, conspired with Sangha, Fleming, and Plasencia to illegally obtain ketamine and distribute it to the actor.
He plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death.
Lastly, physician Dr. Mark Chavez, 54, of San Diego, agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.
Following the arrests, Perry’s step-father Keith Morrison has issued an emotional statement.
The Dateline correspondent, 77, told PEOPLE: “We were and still are heartbroken by Matthew’s death, but it has helped to know law enforcement has taken his case very seriously.
Perry’s step-dad Keith Morrison was left heartbroken by the actor’s death. (Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)
“We look forward to justice taking its course and we’re grateful for the exceptional work of the multiple agencies whose agents investigated Matthew’s death.
“We’re hoping unscrupulous suppliers of dangerous drugs will get the message.”
Now, if Sanga is convicted of all charges, the so called ‘ketamine queen’ would face a minimum of 10 years in prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
“Plasencia would 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,” the US Attorney’s Office added.
“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.”
