Medical Professional Admits to Providing Ketamine to Matthew Perry in Court
Matthew Perry, the beloved actor known for his role as Chandler in the iconic sitcom Friends, suffered a drug-related burst colon in 2018 and underwent multiple surgeries. Tragically, he passed away at the age of 54. A criminal investigation was launched soon after his death due to the discovery of ketamine in his system.
Five individuals have been charged in connection with Perry's death, primarily related to the illegal distribution of ketamine and other drugs. The key individuals and their roles are as follows:
Dr. Salvador Plasencia
Dr. Plasencia, a physician, pleaded guilty to four felony counts of ketamine distribution. He supplied ketamine to Matthew Perry through Perry's live-in assistant. Although not treating Perry at the time of his death, Plasencia acknowledged supplying the drug knowing Perry was a struggling addict. He agreed to relinquish his medical license and faces up to 40 years in prison plus fines. His guilty plea marks him as the fourth person of five charged to admit guilt in the case.
Kenneth Iwamasa
Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry's live-in assistant, acted as the intermediary through whom Dr. Plasencia supplied ketamine to Perry. Iwamasa pleaded guilty previously along with two others out of the five charged, though specific details of his charges were not outlined in the results.
A Woman Identified as a Major Ketamine Dealer (Last name Sangha)
A woman named Sangha, also known as the "Ketamine Queen," faces several charges including conspiracy to distribute ketamine, maintaining a drug-involved premises, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and ketamine, and multiple counts of distributing ketamine. Sangha has pleaded not guilty and is the only one of the five charged who has not entered a plea agreement. She is scheduled to go to trial in August 2025.
Two Others Charged
Along with Plasencia and Iwamasa, a total of five people were charged. The other two, whose names have not been disclosed, have pleaded guilty but are not named or detailed in the search results.
In his plea deal, Dr. Plasencia admitted to administering ketamine to Perry by injection and distributing 20 vials of the drug over a two-week period in autumn 2023. Perry's memoir "Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing" details his struggles with addiction, including going through detox dozens of times. Plasencia's attorney, Karen Goldstein, stated that Plasencia regrets his actions and is remorseful for the treatment decisions he made while providing ketamine to Matthew Perry.
Jasveen Sangha, the woman charged as the major ketamine dealer, is charged with selling the dose that killed Perry and has pleaded not guilty. The autopsy of Matthew Perry revealed high levels of ketamine, an anesthetic, in his system. Plasencia did not provide Perry with the fatal dose of ketamine, but supplied the actor with the drug in the weeks before he was found dead.
Perry's death sent shockwaves through the global legions of Friends fans. His role as Chandler brought him fabulous wealth but hid a dark struggle with addiction to painkillers and alcohol. Perry was taking ketamine as part of supervised therapy for depression, but prosecutors claim he became addicted to the substance.
Plasencia, 43, pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine in a federal court in Los Angeles. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 3 and faces up to 40 years in prison.
[1] Los Angeles Times
[2] CNN
[3] New York Times
- The American actor Matthew Perry, known for his role as Chandler in Friends, tragically passed away in 2023, with ketamine found in his system, which led to a criminal investigation.
- Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a former physician, admitted supplying ketamine to Matthew Perry through Perry's live-in assistant, despite knowledge of Perry's addiction, and pleaded guilty to four felony counts of ketamine distribution, potentially facing up to 40 years in prison.
- Jasveen Sangha, a significant ketamine dealer, was charged with selling the dose that led to Matthew Perry's death and faces trial in August 2025. Meanwhile, Sangha's memoir details her struggles with addiction, including ketamine and other substances, as well as her experiences in various therapies and treatments for mental health.
