Matthew Perry: Five people – including two doctors – charged in Friends star's ketamine death | US News

One of the doctors charged in connection with the ketamine-related death of troubled Friends star Matthew Perry wrote in a text message: “I wonder how much this idiot is going to pay,” prosecutors claimed.

The text was written by Salvador Plasencia, a doctor known as “Dr. P” who, according to prosecutors, is one of five defendants charged in connection with the actor's death.

Other defendants include Jasveen Sangha, known as the “Ketamine Queen,” Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry's personal assistant who lives with him, Erik Fleming, an acquaintance of the television star, and another doctor, Mark Chavez.

Iwamasa and Fleming have already pleaded guilty in Perry's death, while Chavez, a San Diego doctor, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine.

On Thursday afternoon, Plasencia pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. His trial is scheduled to begin on October 8.

The judge agreed to bail of $100,000 (£77,796) subject to certain conditions.

Plasencia was also given permission to continue operating his medical practice “unrelated to controlled substances” while on bail, as long as he posted a notice explaining his circumstances and each patient signed a form indicating that they were aware of the charges against them.

Sangha will soon be arraigned in a Los Angeles court, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

It comes after Perry was found dead in a swimming pool at his California home. October 2023.

A grand jury indictment filed in California accuses Plasencia of selling ketamine and paraphernalia such as syringes to Perry's assistants and showing him how to inject the drug after the actor developed an addiction while seeking mental health treatment.

In recent years, the use of ketamine to treat depression, anxiety and pain has increased dramatically.

Anne Milgram, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), said: “Matthew Perry sought treatment for depression and anxiety and checked into a local clinic where he became addicted to intravenous ketamine.

“When clinicians refused to increase his dose, he turned to unscrupulous doctors who saw Perry as an opportunity to make a quick buck.”

Prosecutors allege that Chavez smuggled ketamine to Plasencia and obtained some of the drug from a wholesaler using a fake prescription.

In one case, prosecutors allege Plasencia charged Perry $2,000 (£1,500) for a vial that cost Dr Chavez about $12 (£9).

Over a two-week period in early October 2023, Plasencia received $32,000 from Iwamasa – including $21,500 in cash – in exchange for ketamine, the indictment says.

“These defendants exploited Mr. Perry's addiction problems to enrich themselves. They knew what they were doing was wrong,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada.

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Prosecutors said Perry suffered a health shock on October 12 when he “froze” and suffered high blood pressure after being injected with a “large dose” of the sedative.

“We must not do this again,” Plasencia wrote to Iwamasa after the incident.

But in the days before Perry's death, his assistant gave the actor “at least six injections” of ketamine a day.

In mid-October, Iwamasa also allegedly began obtaining ketamine from Perry's acquaintances Fleming and the “ketamine queen” Sangha.

Assistant administered ketamine to Friends star

Iwamasa injected the Friends star with “at least three injections” of ketamine on October 28, 2023, “which resulted in [his] Death and great bodily harm.” Iwamasa is the one who found Perry dead in his home in California.

The prosecutor said the defendants exchanged messages shortly after Perry's death citing ketamine as the cause of death.

At a press conference announcing the charges, Mr Estrada said they had also tried to cover up their involvement in supplying the actor with the drug.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office attributed Perry's death to the acute effects of ketamine – a sedative that can be used as a recreational drug and to treat depression.

Police said in May they were working with federal authorities to determine the source of the ketamine the 54-year-old actor had consumed.

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Perry had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy to treat depression and anxiety, but his last session occurred more than a week before his death, according to an autopsy report released in December.

According to the report, the amount of ketamine in his blood was within the range of the amount used for general anesthesia during surgery.

The star spoke openly about his struggle with drug abuse and addiction and also founded a rehab clinic for men with similar problems.