August 15th 2024.
A tragic event has been brought to light as a prosecutor reveals that five individuals have been charged in connection with the death of beloved actor Matthew Perry. The charges include allegations of distributing ketamine to Perry in the final weeks of his life, ultimately resulting in his untimely passing from an overdose.
According to a press release from the US Attorney's office, the defendants, including an individual referred to as "The Ketamine Queen," are accused of taking advantage of Perry's struggles with addiction for their own financial gain. US Attorney Martin Estrada emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that these individuals knew their actions were wrong and yet continued to profit from Perry's addiction.
Out of the five defendants, three have reached a plea agreement, while the other two face multiple charges. It was revealed that Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing in the hit show Friends, passed away in October 2023 at the age of 54. The autopsy report from the Los Angeles Medical Examiner's Office confirmed that the cause of death was "acute effects of ketamine" and subsequent drowning.
DEA Administrator Anne Milgram expressed her disappointment in the doctors who abused their positions of trust for personal gain, as well as the street dealers who supplied Perry with the deadly drug. She added that the DEA works tirelessly to protect the public and hold accountable those who distribute dangerous substances.
During the announcement of the charges, Estrada shared that investigators believe Perry relapsed in the fall of 2023, highlighting his vulnerability as a recovering addict. He also alleged that two doctors, Dr. Salvador Plasencia and Dr. Mark Chavez, worked together to supply Perry with ketamine, which was then administered by Perry's personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who had no medical training.
Plasencia, who was arrested on Thursday, is facing seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two charges of falsifying records after Perry's death. His medical license has been in good standing with no previous complaints. The prosecutor also revealed that the defendants exchanged messages after Perry's death, discussing the use of ketamine and referencing it as the cause of death.
Chavez, who has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, and Iwamasa, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death, were both involved in supplying Perry with the drug. Estrada stated that they attempted to cover up their involvement in the tragic event. Over the span of two months, Perry was given approximately 20 vials of ketamine, costing him roughly $US55,000.
Estrada condemned Plasencia for taking advantage of Perry's addiction for personal profit, as revealed in a text message where he questioned how much Perry would be willing to pay for the drug. He also expressed his desire to be Perry's sole source of supply. The autopsy report showed that the levels of ketamine in Perry's blood were consistent with general anesthesia, and his last treatment 1½ weeks prior could not explain the high levels.
Perry had been open about his struggles with drug addiction, detailing his journey in his 2022 memoir. He began abusing prescription medication after a jet ski accident in 1997 and eventually escalated to taking up to 55 pills per day. His death was met with shock and sadness from his Friends co-stars, who referred to themselves as a family.
The investigation into Perry's death is ongoing and is being treated as a criminal case by the Los Angeles Police Department. Authorities are looking into how Perry obtained the drugs and who may have supplied them, with the DEA and US Postal Inspection Service also involved in the investigation.
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