It has been one year since Friends star Matthew Perry was found unconscious in the hot tub of his Los Angeles area home. The actor was found by his assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who immediately called 9-1-1. Emergency services quickly responded to the Pacific Palisades residence and did everything they could, but they were unable to revive him. Perry was pronounced dead at just 54 years old.
Two months after his death, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner revealed that Mr. Perry had died from the “acute effects” of ketamine, a powerful anesthetic. There were also several other contributing factors in Mr. Perry’s death, including drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is a narcotic that is used to help treat addiction.
Related: FDA Issued Serious Warning About Drug That Killed Actor Matthew Perry Just Days Before He Died
In May of this year, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced a joint investigation into Mr. Perry’s death and how he was able to obtain such large amounts of ketamine.
Just three months later, multiple people were arrested in connection with The Good Fight actor’s death — including the assistant who found him.
In addition to Kenneth Iwamasa (assistant), authorities also arrested two doctors — Dr. Salvador Plasencia and Dr. Mark Chavez –, Erik Fleming (the middleman), and Jasveen Singha, also known as the “Ketamine Queen” of North Hollywood.
Since the arrests were made, Kenneth Iwamasa and Erik Fleming have pled guilty to the charges against them and face serious jail time.
Erik Fleming admitted to obtaining ketamine from Ms. Singha, which he would then give to Mr. Iwamasa. Fleming admitted that, in the weeks leading up to Perry’s death, he had given Iwamasa more than 20 vials of the drug. Fleming has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. He faces up to 15 years in prison.
Kenneth Iwamasa — who worked for Perry and lived with him for years — has admitted to getting the ketamine for Mr. Perry and even injecting him with it multiple times per day. He has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, causing death, and faces up to 25 years in prison.
Related: Something More Sinister? Matthew Perry’s Ex Doubts His Ketamine Death
And now, another guilty plea has been entered, and a former medical professional is heading to jail.
Per TheWrap, Dr. Mark Chavez has admitted to contributing to Matthew Perry’s death:
A doctor [Chavez] who arranged to sell massive vials of ketamine for Matthew Perry in the month before his overdose death has entered a guilty plea to a single federal charge, and could face up to 10 years in prison.
The 54-year-old pleaded guilty Wednesday to one federal count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, and will be sentenced April 2. He is free on $50,000 bond, though he agreed to surrender his California medical license and discontinue his practice, according to court documents obtained by TheWrap.
Related: Shocking Revelation Made About Matthew Perry’s Drug Dealer
Since the arrests, even more disturbing information has come to light regarding Mr. Perry’s last days and his descent into a serious ketamine addiction. Perry had touted the advantages of ketamine therapy, but his reliance on the drug grew to dangerous levels, and he began illegally obtaining it.
Text messages between Dr. Chavez and Dr. Plasencia revealed how little they cared about Mr. Perry’s health and were only concerned about how much money they could get out of him. They referred to him as a “moron” and wanted to make him a repeat customer in their illegal ketamine business.
Jasveen Singha (the “Ketamine Queen”) and Dr. Salvador Plasencia have both pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
Ms. Singha and Dr. Plasencia are each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Sangha is also charged with 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, and five counts of distribution of ketamine.
Dr. Plasencia will go to court later this month and faces up to 120 years in prison if convicted.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol, drug, or substance abuse, there is help available. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.