Matthew Perry’s assistant, doctors charged for supplying drug that caused overdose: ’Took advantage of his addiction’

In a major development in the investigation of Matthew Perry's death, five people, including two doctors and a woman famously known as ‘Ketamine Queen’, have been charged with supplying the “Friends” star with a powerful surgical anaesthetic that killed him, reported Reuters.

The woman ‘Ketamine Queen’ is a part of a criminal network that distributed the drug ketamine to Perry and others, reported Reuters, citing US Attorney Martin Estrada.

Matthew Perry was struggling to overcome his addiction over the past decade. He died at the age of 54 from “acute effects ” of ketamine and other factors that caused him to lose consciousness. He was found dead in his hot bathtub last year.

'Defendants took advantage of Matthew Perry's addiction'

A criminal network was behind supplying the powerful sedative to Matthew Perry, who played the role of Chandler Bing in popular American television sitcom FRIENDS.

Accused Jasveen Sangha, alias ‘Ketamine Queen’, was a part of the criminal network that distributed the drug to Perry and others, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said adding that the accused people used Perry's addiction issues for their benefit.

"These defendants took advantage of Mr. Perry's addiction issues to enrich themselves," Estrada said at a news conference on Thursday.

Who are the accused in Matthew Perry's drug overdose death

In addition to Ketamine Queen, two doctors and a personal assistant of Matthew Perry have been charged with supplying the ‘Friends’ star with ketamine.

Matthew Perry's death due to ketamine overdose was a consequence of false prescription, sale and injection of the powerful drug. Each defendant played a lead role that led to the actor's death in October 2023, Anne Milgram, administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, said.

Two of the defendants - Jasveen Sangha, 41, and Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 42 - pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles on Thursday.

According to authorities, Sangha was known as the "Ketamine Queen" and sold the doses that killed Perry from her "stash house" in North Hollywood.

Dr. Salvador Plasencia allegedly distributed ketamine to Perry and to his personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, without a legitimate medical purpose on at least seven occasions.

What is ketamine, that caused Matthew Perry's death?

Ketamine is a short-acting anesthetic which also causes hallucinations. Sometimes, it is also prescribed to treat depression and anxiety. The drug is also abused by recreational users in many occassions.

Matthew Perry was found lifeless in his hot tub on 23 October, 2023. Investigation indicates that he died from “acute effects” of ketamine and other factors that caused him to lose consciousness and drown in his hot tub.

According to Perry's autopsy report, a toxicology test confirmed that his body contained ketamine at dangerously high levels, which is generally found in anaesthesia patients being monitored by professionals during surgery.

Other contributing factors were drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of the opioid-addiction medicine buprenorphine.