On the 15th of the month, local time, American prosecutors investigated Hollywood male star Matthew Perry for drug-related deaths, revealing an underground criminal network supplying Matthew with ketamine, commonly known as “Special K”. In total, five people were arrested, including Matthew’s personal assistant and two doctors.
Last year, at the end of October, Matthew Perry, who rose to global stardom for his role as “Chandler” in the popular sitcom “Friends” (1994-2004), died by drowning in his bathtub at home. Initially thought to be an accident, in December, the police released toxicology reports and autopsy results, revealing that the cause of death was the “acute effects of ketamine” followed by accidental drowning.
According to reports from ABC, BBC, and CNN, Matthew had been using ketamine infusion therapy to treat anxiety and depression. No drug paraphernalia or signs of drug use were found at the scene, and it appeared that he had drowned. Matthew had claimed to have finally overcome his addiction, after several decades of battling it. However, the coroner found something peculiar: his blood had a high concentration of ketamine, with effects equivalent to general anesthesia during surgery.
By May of this year, the Los Angeles Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration stated that they were conducting a joint criminal investigation into how Matthew obtained prescription drugs and why there was such a high level of drugs remaining in his system. As the last time Matthew received treatment was over a week before his death, there shouldn’t have been so much ketamine in his system.
Following the investigation, on the 15th, US prosecutor Martin Estrada exposed a suspected large underground ketamine trafficking network, with the defendants attempting to cover up the truth.
According to FBI data, five individuals have been arrested. Three defendants, including a doctor and Matthew’s assistant and manager, have admitted to conspiring to distribute illegal ketamine leading to death. The other two defendants, another doctor and a woman claiming to be the “Ketamine Queen” drug dealer, were arrested on Thursday. The drug dealer was accused of selling the ketamine that caused Matthew’s death, and both pleaded not guilty in court.
Martin stated that the defendants took advantage of Matthew’s addiction to line their pockets, knowing that their actions would pose great danger to him, yet they proceeded anyway. Doctors Plasencia and Mark Chavez collaborated to provide Matthew with ketamine, and Matthew’s assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, who had no medical training, administered ketamine injections to him.
Martin mentioned that from September to October 2023, they gave Matthew approximately 20 bottles of ketamine, costing him around $55,000. Martin said, “Defendant Plasencia saw it as an opportunity to profit from Matthew. In a text message from September last year, he wrote, ‘I wonder how much this idiot will pay?’ He also expressed in the text that he wanted to be Matthew’s sole supplier.”
Authorities claimed that the doctors bought each bottle of the drug for $12 but sold them to Matthew for $2,000 each. Martin said Plasencia, as a doctor, “knew how dangerous his actions were”. He added that Plasencia even told another patient that Matthew’s addiction was out of control, yet he continued to provide ketamine to Matthew.
Plasencia allegedly falsified medical records to make the drugs given to Matthew appear legitimate. Plasencia pleaded not guilty in a arraignment on Thursday afternoon, with ankle restraints.
Another key defendant, drug dealer Sangha, was accused of selling 50 bottles of ketamine to Matthew within two weeks for around $11,000 in cash. She allegedly worked with Matthew’s manager Eric Fleming and residence assistant Kenneth to distribute these drugs to Matthew. Eric admitted in court documents that he provided the ketamine that caused Matthew’s death, supplied by Sangha. Kenneth also admitted to administering the ketamine to Matthew on the day of his death.
Prosecutors stated that if convicted, Plasencia could face up to 120 years in prison, and Sangha could face life imprisonment.
Plasencia’s next hearing is scheduled for October 8. Sangha’s next hearing is set for October 15.