An accused drug dealer dubbed the "Ketamine Queen" by authorities is among five people charged in connection with actor Matthew Perry's death.
Here's what we know about Jasveen Sangha and the drug she is accused of dealing.
Who is the alleged 'Ketamine Queen'?
Ms Sangha is accused of supplying the ketamine that caused Mr Perry's overdose death in October 2023.
Prosecutors say she became known as the "Ketamine Queen" for allegedly selling drugs out of a North Hollywood property known as the "Sangha Stash House" since at least 2019.
In announcing the charges on Thursday, US attorney Martin Estrada said a police search of the home uncovered a "drug selling emporium".
At the property, federal agents and detectives found about 79 vials of ketamine, approximately 1.4 kilograms of pills containing methamphetamine, cocaine and prescription drugs that appeared to be fraudulently obtained.
Prosecutors say Ms Sangha should have been aware of the dangers of ketamine after allegedly selling it to a separate victim, Cody McLaury, in 2019 who died of an overdose hours later.
When one of his family members told Ms Sangha he'd died of a ketamine overdose, investigators say she conducted a Google search for "can ketamine be listed as a cause of death".
It is alleged Ms Sangha continued to sell ketamine after Mr McLaury's death.
Ms Sangha has been charged with:
- One count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine
- 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
- Five counts of distribution of ketamine
She is facing a possible sentence of life in prison.
Who else has been charged?
Kenneth Iwamasa
Mr Iwamasa was Mr Perry's live-in assistant.
The 59-year-old has been accused of conspiring to distribute the ketamine that caused his boss's death.
Authorities say he acquired ketamine from Salvador Plasencia in September 2023 and also began obtaining the drug from Ms Sangha in October that year.
He has also admitted to repeatedly injecting Mr Perry with ketamine without medical training, including multiple times on October 28, 2023, the day the actor died.
On August 7 this year, Mr Iwamasa pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death.
Mr Iwamasa faces a sentence of up to 15 years.
Dr Salvador Plasencia
Dr Plasencia is a licenced doctor who, according to an indictment, learned in September 2023 that Mr Perry was interested in obtaining ketamine.
He allegedly contacted Mark Chavez, who previously operated a ketamine clinic, to obtain the drug to sell to Mr Perry.
Court documents say Dr Plasencia discussed how much to charge Mr Perry for the ketamine in text messages to Dr Chavez.
"I wonder how much this moron will pay," the documents quote. "Lets (sic) find out."
During September and October that year, Dr Plasencia allegedly distributed ketamine to Mr Perry and Mr Iwamasa illegitimately on at least seven occasions.
He is accused of teaching Mr Iwamasa how to inject Mr Perry with the drug, selling it to him and leaving him with vials for self-administration.
Authorities also allege Dr Plasencia personally injected Mr Perry with ketamine and failed to monitor him after administering the drug.
A statement from the California District Attorney's Office said the doctor continued to sell ketamine to Mr Iwamasa despite learning at least a week earlier that Mr Perry's addiction was "spiralling out of control".
After receiving a legal request to produce documents in connection with the federal investigation, Dr Plasencia allegedly provided altered and falsified medical records that purported to show he had a legitimate treatment plan in place for Mr Perry.
He has been charged with:
- One count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine
- Seven counts of distribution of ketamine
- Two counts of altering and falsifying documents or records related to the federal investigation
Dr Mark Chavez
Dr Chavez operated a ketamine clinic in San Diego.
The 54-year-old is accused of selling ketamine to Dr Plasencia, which was then distributed to Mr Perry.
In a plea agreement, Dr Chavez admitted to acquiring the drug through illegitimate means, including diverting from his former clinic, making false representations to a wholesale dealer and by submitting a fraudulent prescription in the name of a former patient without her knowledge or consent.
The doctor has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and could face up to 10 years in prison.
Erik Fleming
Mr Fleming is accused of distributing ketamine he acquired from Ms Sangha to Mr Iwamasa.
After discussing prices with the live-in assistant in mid-October 2023, Mr Fleming allegedly coordinated the sales with Ms Sangha and brought cash from Mr Iwamasa to her North Hollywood property.
In court documents, the 54-year-old admitted to distributing 50 vials of the drug to Mr Iwamasa, providing half about four days before Mr Perry's death.
After Mr Perry's death was reported in the news, Ms Sangha allegedly texted Mr Fleming: "Delete all our messages".
He faces up to 25 years in prison.
When did Matthew Perry die?
Mr Iwamasa found Mr Perry dead in his hot tub at his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023.
The last photo uploaded to his Instagram page, just five days before his death, showed him in the pool.
His autopsy, released in December last year, found he died of a ketamine overdose.
What is ketamine?
Ketamine is a dissociative anaesthetic that, according to healthdirect, "stops your brain from interpreting pain messages".
The drug is also known as:
Its effects can include feeling happy and relaxed, but users may also experience feeling unattached from their body.
Ketamine carries medical risks that require patients given the drug to be monitored by health care professionals.
Overdoses can cause seizures and coma and can be fatal.
What is ketamine used for?
It's normally used by medical professionals and vets to induce and maintain anaesthesia but it has also been explored as a potential treatment for anxiety and depression.
Possessing ketamine without a prescription is illegal in California because of its medical risks but a black market for recreational use has grown because of its hallucinogenic properties.
Mr Estrada said Mr Perry's death was not a case of legitimate ketamine treatment.
"We're talking about two doctors who abused the trust," he said.
"They had abused their licences to put another person's life at risk."
