Police in Los Angeles have charged five people in connection with the death of Friends star Matthew Perry, who died of a drug overdose at his home last year.
Perry's former personal assistant, two doctors and an alleged drug dealer nicknamed the "Ketamine Queen" are among those arrested.
Perry was found dead in his hot tub at his home in LA on October 28 last year. His autopsy, released in December, found he died from the effects of ketamine.
The five people are all accused of providing Perry with the drug, which was found in his blood at levels in the range used for general anaesthetic in surgery.
Each defendant played a "key role" in his death, US Drug Enforcement Administration head Anne Milgram told a press conference in LA.
She said Perry had become addicted to intravenous ketamine while being treated for anxiety and depression at a local clinic.
"When clinic doctors refused to increase his dosage, he turned to unscrupulous doctors who saw Perry as a quick way to make money," she said.
"As Matthew Perry's ketamine addiction grew, he wanted more, and he wanted it faster and cheaper.
"That is how he ended up buying from street dealers who sold the ketamine that ultimately led to his death.
"In doing so, he followed the arc that we have tragically seen with many others whose substance use disorder begins in a doctor's office and ends in the street."
Those arrested are:
- Kenneth Iwamasa, 59, Perry's live-in personal assistant. He is accused of sourcing ketamine for Perry, and injecting him with it multiple times.
- Mark Chavez, 54, a San Diego doctor who had operated a ketamine clinic in the past.
- Salvador Plasencia, 42, a physician known as "Dr P", who allegedly worked with Chavez to sell ketamine to Perry through his live-in assistant.
- Jasveen Sangha, 41, dubbed the "Ketamine Queen" in court documents. She's accused of dealing drugs from a North Hollywood property known as the "Sangha Stash House".
- Eric Fleming, 54, who authorities describe as a "broker" and "street dealer" for Sangha. He admitted in court documents to providing the batch of ketamine that killed Perry.
'I wonder how much this moron will pay'
Court documents allege that Plasencia discovered Perry was interested in buying ketamine in September, 2023. Plasencia then contacted the other doctor, Chavez, to discuss selling the drug to Perry.
Plasencia allegedly wrote in text messages to Chavez, "I wonder how much this moron will pay" and "let's find out". He also wrote that he wanted to be Perry's "go to" for the drugs.
Over two months, Plasencia and Chavez sold about 20 vials of ketamine to Perry for $US55,000 ($83,000).
They provided the drugs via Perry's assistant, Iwamasa, and Plasencia also taught Iwamasa how to inject Perry with ketamine.
"Defendant Plasencia knew full well the danger of what he was doing," US Attorney Martin Estrada said.
"In fact, on one occasion, he injected Mr Perry with ketamine and he saw Mr Perry freeze up and his blood pressure spike.
"Despite that, he left additional vials of ketamine for defendant Iwamasa to administer to Mr Perry."
The court documents allege the other two defendants, Fleming and Sangha, began selling ketamine to Iwamasa later, in mid-October, 2023. Perry allegedly paid Sangha $US11,000 ($16,600) for about 50 vials of ketamine.
Iwamasa allegedly injected Perry with ketamine bought from Fleming and Sangha on the day he died. After seeing media reports about Perry's death, Sangha allegedly texted Fleming, "Delete all our messages".
Earlier this year, Plasencia produced fake medical records to show he had a "treatment plan" in place for Perry, prosecutors allege.
Five face lengthy prison sentences
Fleming and Iwamasa pleaded guilty to drug offences earlier this month, and will be sentenced at a later date. Fleming faces a maximum of 25 years' jail; Iwamasa a maximum of 15 years.
Chavez is due to appear in court on August 30. He has agreed to a plea deal, prosecutors said, and faces up to 10 years' jail.
Plasencia and Sangha are due to have their matters heard in a Los Angeles court later on Thursday, local time.
Plasencia has been charged with seven counts of distributing ketamine, which each have 10-year maximum sentences, and two counts of altering or falsifying documents, which carry 20-year maximum sentences.
Sangha's charges include maintaining a drug-involved premises, as well as a range of drug possession and distribution offences. She could be jailed for life.
