Five people have been charged in connection with the death of “Friends” actor Matthew Perry, who passed away on October 28, 2023.
On August 15, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles announced the charges during a press conference. Investigators discovered a hidden network of drug sellers who are believed to have supplied the ketamine that led to Perry’s death.
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said the defendants took advantage of Perry’s struggles with addiction. The people charged include two doctors, Perry’s live-in personal assistant, and someone nicknamed “The Ketamine Queen.”
Three of the five charged have reached a plea deal. The other two, Dr. Salvador Plasencia and Jasveen Sangha, were formally charged on August 14, 2024.
Dr. Plasencia pleaded not guilty to charges like conspiracy to distribute ketamine and falsifying documents. He was released on a $100,000 unsecured bond and had to give up his license to prescribe controlled substances. His trial is scheduled for October 8, 2024.
Sangha also pleaded not guilty to several charges, including conspiracy to distribute ketamine and possession of drugs with intent to distribute.
Matthew Perry, who was loved for his role as Chandler Bing on “Friends,” died at age 54. He was found face-down in a jacuzzi at his home in Pacific Palisades. The Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed that Perry died from the “acute effects of ketamine” and subsequent drowning.
