Matthew Perry Death Investigation: Details on Indictments
UPDATE 8/15/2024 1:10 PM EST — Five people have been indicted on charges related to the Matthew Perry death investigation.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Central District of California, two of the people indicted by a grand jury who were arrested today are Jasveen Sangha and Dr. Salvador Plascencia. Prosecutors stated that Sangha is a prominent drug dealer known as “The Ketamine Queen.” Meanwhile, Plascencia, who is known as “Dr. P,” is a physician from Santa Monica, Calif.
The three other people indicted on charges related to Perry’s death include his personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, acquaintance Erik Fleming and Dr. Mark Chavez.
United States Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement, “These defendants cared more about profiting off of Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being. Drug dealers selling dangerous substances are gambling with other people’s lives over greed. This case, along with our many other prosecutions of drug-dealers who cause death, send a clear message that we will hold drug-dealers accountable for the deaths they cause.”
All five people indicted are facing varying charges related to conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Sangha is facing the most charges, which also include one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute ketamine, and five counts of distribution of ketamine.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Central District of California notes of sentencing, “If convicted of all charges, Sangha would face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Plasencia would face up to 10 years in federal prison for each ketamine-related count and up to 20 years in federal prison for each records falsification count. Iwamasa and Fleming will face up to 15 years and 25 years, respectively, when they are sentenced in their federal cases. Chavez has been charged in an information pursuant to a plea agreement and will be arraigned on August 30. At sentencing, Chavez will face up to 10 years in federal prison.”
ORIGINAL STORY
The Matthew Perry death investigation has reportedly resulted in at least one arrest and potentially multiple arrests.
Many outlets — including The Associated Press, The New York Times and People — report that at least one arrest has been made. However, other outlets — including NBC News, CNN and ABC’s Los Angeles affiliate KABC — report that multiple people have been arrested in connection to Perry’s death.
KABC reports that there will be a news conference from the U.S. Attorney for Los Angeles and the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration today (August 15) at 10 AM PST/1 PM EST. During the news conference, more details related to the reported arrests will be shared.
Perry died on October 28, 2023 at age 54. He was found dead in a hot tub at his home in Los Angeles. In December 2023, toxicology results indicated the actor died from “the acute effects of ketamine.” Other factors in Perry’s death included coronary artery disease and buprenorphine effects. Buprenorphine is used to prevent the withdrawal symptoms and cravings associated with opioid use disorder.
