Matthew Perry’s death has revealed a disturbing cover-up involving his assistant and alleged drug dealers.
After the actor’s overdose on ketamine, his assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, and two others—middleman Erik Fleming and “Ketamine Queen” Jasveen Sangha—attempted to erase evidence of their involvement.
On October 28, the day Perry died, Fleming and Sangha began to distance themselves from the drug deal. According to court documents, they discussed deleting digital evidence from their phones, including text messages and updates to Signal, an encrypted messaging app, to automatically erase messages.
Two days later, Iwamasa spoke with Fleming and revealed that he had “cleaned up the scene,” disposing of syringes and ketamine vials. Iwamasa also claimed to have “deleted everything.” Fleming, in text messages to Sangha, shifted blame onto Iwamasa, suggesting the assistant was the main enabler.
Perry’s overdose was caused by the ketamine provided by Sangha and delivered by Fleming. On the morning of October 28, Iwamasa administered a ketamine shot to Perry around 8:30 a.m. Later, Perry requested additional injections while watching a movie. Iwamasa gave Perry a third injection while he was near or in a Jacuzzi. When Iwamasa returned after running errands, he found Perry dead in the Jacuzzi.
The autopsy, completed on October 29, confirmed Perry’s death was due to “acute effects of ketamine,” with drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine effects contributing factors.
Fleming allegedly delivered 25 vials of ketamine on October 14 and another 25 vials on October 24. Iwamasa used these vials to inject Perry six to eight times a day between October 24 and October 27. Perry had previously suffered adverse reactions to these injections, administered by Iwamasa, who lacked medical training.
Iwamasa had found Perry unconscious at least twice in October. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death on August 7. Sangha faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to distribute ketamine and maintaining a drug-involved premises. Fleming pleaded guilty on August 8 to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution resulting in death, admitting his role in providing the fatal ketamine.
Two doctors have also been charged in connection with Perry’s death. Dr. Salvador Plasencia, introduced to Perry by Iwamasa, allegedly sourced ketamine from Dr. Mark Chavez and taught Iwamasa how to administer the drug. Chavez, who previously ran a ketamine clinic, is accused of submitting a false prescription to obtain ketamine. Chavez has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Plasencia has pleaded not guilty to the same charge.
