The final chapter in the tragic and tangled case of Matthew Perry’s death appears to be closing, as all five people charged in connection with the beloved actor’s fatal ketamine overdose have now agreed to plead guilty. The latest and most prominent of these defendants, Jasveen Sangha—known in Los Angeles’s underworld as the “Ketamine Queen”—admitted in court to selling Perry the lethal dose that ultimately ended his life in October 2023. According to the Associated Press, Sangha’s plea comes just over a month before her long-delayed trial was set to begin, marking a decisive end to a saga that has gripped Hollywood and Perry’s fans worldwide.
Perry, best known for his iconic role as Chandler Bing on Friends, died at age 54 in his Pacific Palisades backyard hot tub on October 28, 2023. The LA County Medical Examiner’s December 2023 autopsy declared the “acute effects of ketamine” as the primary cause of death, with drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine—an opioid use disorder treatment—listed as contributing factors. The revelations shocked many, given Perry’s long-publicized battle with addiction and his efforts to help others facing similar struggles.
Federal authorities charged five individuals in the wake of Perry’s death, and as of August 18, 2025, all have accepted plea deals. The group includes Sangha, Perry’s personal assistant, two doctors, and an acquaintance who acted as an intermediary. Each played a distinct role in the chain of events that led to Perry’s untimely passing, and their stories offer a sobering window into the shadowy world of celebrity drug use and the people who profit from it.
Sangha, a 42-year-old dual citizen of the US and the UK, cultivated an image as a jet-setting socialite, often posting photos from glamorous locales like Spain, Japan, Dubai, London, and Los Angeles. But behind the scenes, prosecutors say, she ran a drug business for at least five years out of her apartment in LA’s San Fernando Valley. According to court records cited by Deadline, Sangha sold Perry 51 vials of ketamine in October 2023, which were delivered to Perry’s live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. Authorities raided Sangha’s apartment in March 2024, uncovering large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and ketamine. She was initially released on bond but was re-arrested and held without bail after being indicted again in August 2024 on charges directly linked to Perry’s death.
The charges against Sangha are serious: three counts of distributing ketamine, one count of distribution resulting in death or serious bodily injury, and one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises. The statutory maximum sentences for these offenses stack up to a potential 45 years in federal prison, though her actual sentence will be determined in the coming months. As her lawyer Mark Geragos told the Associated Press, “She’s taking responsibility for her actions.”
Sangha’s dealings extended beyond Perry. According to The New York Post, she admitted to supplying ketamine to a man who died of an overdose in August 2019. Neighbors described suspicious activity at her home, noting frequent late-night visitors and shady characters with suitcases. Sangha’s operation, prosecutors allege, was hardly a secret in certain circles—she even referred to herself as a “celebrity drug dealer with high quality goods,” a moniker her attorneys have since dismissed as media sensationalism.
Central to Perry’s final days was his assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, 60, who had worked closely with the actor and was deeply involved in his illegal ketamine use. According to his plea agreement, Iwamasa injected Perry with ketamine six to eight times per day in the days leading up to his death. It was Iwamasa who discovered Perry’s body in the hot tub, and he became the first defendant to reach a plea deal with prosecutors, agreeing to cooperate as a key witness. Iwamasa faces up to 15 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for November 19, 2025.
Another defendant, Dr. Salvador Plasencia—a Los Angeles-area physician known as “Dr. P”—admitted to selling 20 vials of ketamine to Perry and personally injecting him with some of the initial doses. Despite Perry experiencing alarming side effects, including freezing up and a spike in blood pressure, Plasencia continued to supply the drug. After his indictment, Plasencia remained free on bond but was required to inform his patients of the charges and was barred from prescribing dangerous drugs. He now plans to voluntarily surrender his medical license. His sentencing is set for December 3, 2025, and he faces up to 40 years in prison. Plasencia’s attorneys stated he is “profoundly remorseful for the treatment decisions he made while providing ketamine to Matthew Perry.”
Erik Fleming, 55, was the acquaintance who connected Sangha to Perry through Iwamasa. Fleming delivered 50 vials of Sangha’s ketamine to Perry, including 25 vials sold for $6,000 just four days before the actor’s death. Text messages between Fleming and Sangha after Perry’s death reveal their attempts to distance themselves from the tragedy and shift blame onto Iwamasa. In a voicemail, Fleming told Sangha, “I’m 90% sure everyone is protected. I never dealt with [Perry]. Only his Assistant. So the Assistant was the enabler.” Fleming pleaded guilty in August 2024 and faces up to 25 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for November 12, 2025.
The fifth defendant, Dr. Mark Chavez, 55, ran a ketamine clinic in San Diego and admitted to obtaining the drug from a wholesale distributor on false pretenses. Chavez supplied the doses that Plasencia sold to Perry, completing the supply chain. He surrendered his medical license and pleaded guilty in October 2024 to conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Chavez’s sentencing is set for September 17, 2025, and he faces up to 10 years in prison. According to his lawyer, Chavez is “incredibly remorseful,” has accepted responsibility, and is “trying to do everything in his power to right the wrong.”
With all five defendants now awaiting sentencing, the legal aftermath of Perry’s death is drawing to a close. The case has highlighted not only the persistent dangers of addiction—even for those with access to the best medical care—but also the complex web of enablers, profiteers, and medical professionals who orbit around celebrity clients. Perry’s death, as noted by the LA County Medical Examiner and reported by Deadline, was the result of a lethal combination of drugs and underlying health issues, but it was the illegal supply and administration of ketamine that ultimately proved fatal.
As the courts prepare to render judgment on those responsible, the story serves as a stark reminder of the high stakes and hidden risks that can accompany fame, fortune, and addiction. The hope, for many who followed Perry’s journey, is that some measure of justice—and perhaps lessons for the future—can be found in the wake of this tragedy.
