Five people have been arrested in connection with Matthew Perry’s death. The Friends star died in a bath tub at his Los Angeles home last year, and US Attorney Martin Estrada’s office is questioning a number of his associates, including two doctors and the actor’s assistant, under suspicion of supplying him with a large amount of the potentially lethal drug ketamine.
Included among those arrested is an alleged drug dealer the police referred to as the “Ketamine Queen.” The actor’s death was initially considered an accident, and it was known that he was treating depression with ketamine. Still, subsequent investigations have revealed that Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who allegedly supplied Perry with the drug, referred to him as a “moron” in text messages and wondered how much to charge him for the supply.
Alleged dealer and “Ketamine Queen” Jasveen Sangha reportedly sold the drug to Mr. Perry last October, causing his death. The 41-year-old is accused of providing the star with 50 vials of ketamine in exchange for $11,000. Mr. Estrada described Sangha’s North Hollywood home as a “drug-selling emporium,” where investigators found more than 80 vials of ketamine, thousands of pills, and supplies of cocaine, Xanax, and methamphetamine.
The US Attorney said the ruthless dealers took advantage of the actor’s descent into addiction, saying they charged him $2,000 for vials that usually only cost around $12 each.
Investigators also reportedly uncovered a plot to cover up the drug network after Mr. Perry’s death was announced. Sangha allegedly told the others to delete all of their text messages. Additionally, Eric Fleming, who is also implicated in the supply chain, wrote to Ms. Sangha and asked her how long ketamine is traceable in the human body.
Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s personal assistant, has been charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine for his alleged part in the rip-off scheme. Mr. Estrada told reporters that Iwamasa and his co-accused were “more interested in profiting off Mr Perry than caring for his wellbeing.”
Matthew Perry was known to struggle with alcoholism and drug abuse problems and wrote about his battle in an autobiography published soon before his death.
