The arrests and charges in Matthew Perry’s death investigation explained: Defendants and timeline of events

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The arrests and charges in Matthew Perry's death investigation explained: Defendants and timeline of events

As a longtime fan of Matthew Perry and his iconic role as Chandler Bing on Friends, this news has left me utterly heartbroken and outraged. The untimely death of such a talented individual due to the irresponsible actions of a few is simply unacceptable.

As a devoted fan, I can share that the LAPD and DEA have wrapped up their investigation into the tragic demise of our cherished actor Matthew Perry. Five individuals have been indicted, reportedly for supplying ketamine to Perry during a two-month span. One of the accused is Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s live-in assistant who discovered him in the hot tub on October 28, 2023.

On August 15, during a press conference, E. Martin Estrada, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, revealed that an investigation had uncovered a widespread, hidden network involved in distributing significant quantities of ketamine, not just to Perry, but to others as well. During his address to the media, Estrada shared a general outline of the sequence of events that resulted in the actor’s demise and details about the charges the suspects are facing.

As a long-time follower of current events, I find myself captivated by the latest developments in this high-profile case. Recently, I stumbled upon CBS News’ comprehensive coverage of the press conference, which provided me with valuable insights into the situation. The video was both informative and engaging, offering a detailed account of the individuals charged, the timeline of events, and the specific charges that have been filed against them.

The defendants

  • Dr. Salvador Plasencia (lead defendant)
  • Jasveen Sangha (lead defendant)
  • Dr. Mark Chavez
  • Erik Fleming, Sangha’s broker
  • Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s personal assistant

The timeline of events that led to Matthew Perry’s death

In the Fall of 2023, Perry experienced a setback following his attempts to overcome anxiety and depression with treatment at a nearby clinic that included ketamine therapy.

September 2023

  • Plasencia and Chavez worked together to obtain ketamine for Perry and did so with Iwamasa’s involvement. They distributed the drug to the actor from September to October 2023 which amounted to approximately 20 vials of ketamine for approximately $55,000 in cash.
  • Plasencia sent a text message that read “I wonder how much this moron will pay” in reference to Perry and in subsequent messages made clear that he wanted to be his “go to” as in his sole supplier of the drug.

During the period ranging from September to October 2023, Plasencia gave ketamine to Perry. However, when he observed that the actor had become rigid and his blood pressure surged, this didn’t deter him from persisting in providing the drug or leaving vials with Iwamasa, who lacks the necessary medical qualifications, training, or license to handle controlled substances.

October 2023

  • Plasencia shared with a patient in mid-October that Perry was “spiraling out of control with his addiction” and still didn’t stop administrating ketamine to him.
  • Over a two week period, Sangha sold large amounts of ketamine to the actor. In total, it was approximately 50 vials of the drug for approximately $11,000 in cash. She worked with a broker by the name of Erik Fleming and Iwamasa was also involved.
  • Fleming via text message: “I wouldn’t do it if there wasn’t a chance of me making some money for doing this.”
  • Oct. 28: Matthew Perry died from the batch of ketamine Sangha sold him. As news broke of his passing, she instructed Fleming to delete their messages.

What the investigation found

  • In an effort to cover his tracks, Plasencia falsified medical records and notes to give the appearance that what he had been doing was above board and legitimate.
  • Police found what Estrada referred to as a “drug selling emporium” in Sangha’s home. She was in possession of 80 vials of ketamine, thousands of pills containing methamphetamine, cocaine, bottles of Xanax, and other prescription drugs that were illegally obtained as well as scales and ledgers.
  • Sangha has been named in the death of Cody McLaury who she’d sold ketamine to in 2019. She was informed by his family member that he’d died from the drug the same day he purchased it. A drug distribution charge has been filed related to his death.

The charges

  • Conspiracy to distribute ketamine
  • Distribution of ketamine resulting in death
  • Maintaining drug-involved premises (Sangha’s emporium)
  • Altering and falsifying records related to a federal investigation
  • Multiple other drug trafficking counts

In federal court, Plasencia might serve up to 120 years behind bars. Sangha could potentially spend their entire life in prison. Estrada has yet to disclose the maximum sentence the other three accused individuals may receive.

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2024-08-16 00:23