Major Update in Matthew Perry Death Case: Doctor Admits Guilt in Ketamine Conspiracy

Matthew Perry, widely recognized for his iconic portrayal of Chandler Bing on the NBC sitcom Friends, was tragically discovered deceased in his backyard swimming pool in Southern California on October 23, 2023. The 54-year-old actor had reportedly been battling a prolonged struggle with addiction and substance abuse.

His body was recovered from the pool face down. Upon further examination, medical examiners found a significant concentration of ketamine in his system.

While the presence of ketamine was not entirely unexpected due to Perry’s ongoing battle with depression and his involvement in ketamine infusion treatments, concerns arose when it was revealed that his last ketamine therapy session had taken place over a week prior to his death.

Medical investigators noted that the amount of ketamine present in his body was comparable to the dosages typically administered during surgical procedures.

On October 2, 2024, Dr. Mark Chavez, one of the two physicians implicated in Perry’s case, pleaded guilty to charges related to distributing lethal amounts of ketamine to the actor. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has also leveled more serious allegations against Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who is accused of illegally providing unprescribed drugs to Perry.

Physicians Charged for Supplying Dangerous Amounts of Ketamine to Matthew Perry

Dr. Chavez has recently testified under Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, admitting that he and Dr. Plasencia held numerous meetings across San Diego and Los Angeles. Dr. Chavez confessed to providing Perry with nine ketamine lozenges and 22 five-milliliter vials of ketamine. Authorities revealed that the doctors purchased the ketamine vials for $12 each but sold them for an astonishing $2,000 per vial.

An article from ABC News, published on August 16, 2024, identified another suspect in the case, Jasmine Sangha, known informally as the “ketamine queen.”She was accused of supplying illegal substances throughout the Los Angeles area to finance her extravagant lifestyle. Sangha faces charges for selling 50 vials of ketamine for nearly $11,000 over a span of two weeks.

Holding dual citizenship in the U.S. and Great Britain, Sangha has a history of selling deadly quantities of ketamine, including an incident leading to a death in August 2019. She pleaded not guilty in her initial hearings, claiming her nickname has been used to defame her character. Her next court appearance is scheduled for October 15, 2024.

Perry’s Assistant and Friend Charged in Connection with Actor’s Drug Overdose

Kenneth Iwamasa, Matthew Perry’s assistant, was reportedly the first to discover the actor’s body in the pool. According to an AP News report from August 16, 2024, Iwamasa played a role in facilitating Perry’s connections with ketamine suppliers and admitted to assisting in administering ketamine injections without any formal medical training.

Erik Fleming, a friend of Perry’s, was involved with Iwamasa in acquiring unprescribed quantities of drugs for the actor for their own financial gain. He was found guilty on August 8 of supplying 50 vials of ketamine just days before Perry’s death.

Moreover, it has come to light that Sangha had contact with Fleming regarding drug supply. Dr. Plasencia is accused of instructing Iwamasa on how to inject ketamine into Matthew Perry unlawfully. Both Plasencia and Sangha were arrested on August 15, 2024, with their hearings set for March 4, 2025.

Dr. Mark Chavez, an alumnus of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, earned his medical degree in 2004. According to his attorney, Matthew Binninger, Chavez has surrendered his medical license. He remains free on bond until his next hearing on April 2, 2025, though he has surrendered his passport as stipulated in the plea agreement.

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