Ketamine Queen Jasveen Sangha among five arrested in Matthew Perry overdose death

Suspected drug dealer nicknamed “Ketamine Queen of Los Angeles” sold 50 vials to Friends star Matthew Perry before his death.

Matthew Perry’s assistant, two doctors, and two alleged drug dealers – including the so-called “Ketamine Queen of Los Angeles”, have been arrested over the star’s death.

The five face charges including “conspiracy to distribute ketamine” over allegations they supplied the 54-year-old with the illegal drugs in the final weeks of his life.

Unearthed text messages allegedly revealed discussions among the suspects, with one wondering “How much this moron will pay”.

Perry paid $A100,000 for 70 vials of ketamine before he spiralled out of control in the last four days of his life, according to the indictment.

Three of the five people charged have pleaded guilty to several drug-related offences, while a licensed doctor and an alleged drug dealer arrested in California on Thursday, local time, are the lead defendants in a “broad, underground criminal network” to distribute ketamine to Perry and others.

Jasveen Sangha — aka the Ketamine Queen of Los Angeles. Picture: X

Matthew Perry’s former assistant Kenneth Iwamasa. Picture: Linkedin

“These defendants took advantage of Perry’s addiction issues to enrich themselves. They knew what they were doing was wrong. They knew what they were doing was risking great danger to Perry, but they did it anyway,” said US Attorney Martin Estrada.

Jasveen Sangha, 41, known as “The Ketamine Queen”, is alleged to have sold the fatal dose that killed Perry.

Ms Sangha was first arrested in March in connection with a separate federal drug case but was released from custody after posting a bond of A$151,000, court records revealed.

During the March raid on Ms Sangha’s home, authorities seized 79 bottles of liquid ketamine and close to 2000 meth pills, the New York Times first reported, citing court documents.

Dr. Mark Chavez has been arrested in connection with Matthew Perry's lethal ketamine dose. Picture: The Health MD

US Attorney for the Central District of California Martin Estrada announces charges over Matthew Perry’s death. Picture: AFP

Eric Flemming, 54, pleaded guilty to obtaining the fatal dose from his alleged source, Ms Sangha, and distributing 50 vials of ketamine to Perry’s live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa.

Mr Iwamasa, 59, pleaded guilty to repeatedly injecting ketamine into Perry without medical training, including on the day he died.

Dr Mark Chavez, 54, pleaded guilty to obtaining ketamine by making false statements to a wholesale distributor, and selling it on to Dr Salvador Plasencia.

After learning of Perry’s death, ‘The Ketamine Queen’ of Los Angeles allegedly set her Signal app to delete messages. Picture: Supplied

Dr Plasencia, 42, is alleged to have contacted Dr Chavez after learning of Perry’s interest in ketamine. He is also alleged to have taught Mr Iwamasa how to administer the drug, despite having no medical training.

“I wonder how much this moron will pay,” Dr Plasencia allegedly asked Dr Chavez, according to the indictment. “Lets [sic] find out.”

Doctor Salvador Plascencia. Picture: Linkedin

From September to October last year, Dr Plasencia is alleged to have distributed about 20 vials of Ketamine to Perry in exchange for $A83,000 in cash.

Chavez allegedly sent a photograph of ketamine lozenges previously obtained by writing a fraudulent prescription. Picture: Supplied

‘I guarantee it’s going to be amazing’: Eric Flemming allegedly told Mr Perry’s assistant. Picture: Supplied

When the cost became too expensive, Perry allegedly turned to the Ketamine Queen of Los Angeles.

She is alleged to have sold 50 vials of ketamine for $A17,000, including the batch that resulted in Perry’s death.

During a search of her North Hollywood home, police allegedly found a “drug selling emporium”, including 80 vials of ketamine, thousands of meth pills, cocaine, Xanax and other illegal drugs, plus paraphernalia like scales and ledgers.

Matthew Perry paid about $A100,000 for 70 vials of ketamine from two different sources in the final weeks of his life. Picture: Supplied

Police allegedly found a ‘drug selling emporium’ at the home of the ‘Ketamine Queen of Los Angeles’. Picture: Supplied

“In the end, these defendants were more interested in profiting off Perry than caring for his wellbeing,” Mr Estrada said.

DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said the five defendants, together, are responsible for Perry’s death.

“We allege each of the defendants played a key role in his death by falsely prescribing, selling, or injecting the ketamine that caused Matthew Perry’s tragic death,” Ms Milgram said.

“Matthew Perry’s journey began with unscrupulous doctors who abused their position of trust because they saw him as a payday, to street dealers who gave him ketamine in unmarked vials.

Friends cast, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Mathew Perry, Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, and Matt LeBlanc. Picture: AFP

Perry was found face down in his pool at his Los Angeles beachside home on October 28, 2023. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office attributed his death to the acute effects of ketamine, an anaesthetic with psychedelic properties.

Ketamine has been a popular party drug for decades.

The last picture posted to Matthew Perry's Instagram account on October 23, 2023, from his hot tub. Picture: Instagram

In recent years, it has shown promise as an alternative treatment for depression. A growing number of clinics offer it as an infusion or injection for a wide variety of mental health problems.

The actor had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy to treat depression and anxiety, but his last session took place more than a week prior to his death. The medical examiner noted that the ketamine in Perry’s system “could not be from that infusion therapy” given its short half-life.

The levels of ketamine in his body were high — equivalent to the amount used for general anaesthesia during surgery, according to the medical examiner.

The family of “Dateline” correspondent Keith Morrison, who is Perry’s stepfather, said in a statement to NBC that they welcomed the news of the law enforcement action.

“We were and still are heartbroken by Matthew’s death, but it has helped to know law enforcement has taken his case very seriously,” the family said. “We look forward to justice taking its course.”

Matthew Perry’s stepdad, Keith Morrison, welcomed the arrests. Picture: Keith Morrison

Morrison has opened up about the star’s death in March, saying he can still feel “the echo” of the late actor’s presence every day.

Perry felt he was overcoming his decades-long battle with addiction at the time of his tragic death, according to Morrison.

“He felt like he was beating it,” said Morrison, who has been married to Perry’s mother Suzanne since 1981. “But you never beat it, and he knew that, too.”

“It’s with you every day,” he said of the grief. “It’s with you all the time, and there’s some new aspect of it that assaults your brain. It’s not easy.”

Morrison said Perry was closer than ever with his mother at the time of his death. They were “texting each other constantly,” he said of the pair, and shared “things with her that most middle-aged men don’t share with their mothers.”

“He was goofy. He was funny. He was acerbic,” Morrison said. “But even if he didn’t say a word, he was the centre of attention.”

Originally published as Ketamine Queen Jasveen Sangha among five arrested in Matthew Perry overdose death