Matthew Perry’s personal assistant injected him with the fatal dose of ketamine which led to his death after buying a batch of illicit drugs from a “master chef” on behalf of the late star, according to the federal indictment against him.
Perry’s live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, 59, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death, the Department of Justice announced Thursday.
Perry, 54, died on October 28 last year in the hot tub of his rented home following ketamine injections administered by Iwamasa, prosecutors said. Iwamasa, who has been Perry’s assistant since 1994, now faces up to 15 years in prison when sentenced.
“I thrive in chaotic situations which call for order. I am discreet, loyal and honor absolute confidentiality … I love deadlines, contracts, dotting i’s and solving puzzling situations and projects,” Iwamasa’s now-poignant LinkedIn biography online reads.
Authorities have also charged alleged street dealer Erik Fleming, 54, and Jasveen Sangha, 41 – an alleged drug dealer prosecutors claim was known as the “Ketamine Queen” of Los Angeles – in connection with Perry’s death.
Two doctors are also charged. Dr. Mark Chavez, 54, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. He sold ketamine to another doctor, Salvador Plasencia, 42, who stands charged with distribution of ketamine and falsifying documents related to a federal investigation, according to the indictment, obtained by The Post.
California prosecutors announced on Thursday that Iwamasa pleaded guilty on August 7 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death and admitted to repeatedly injecting Perry with ketamine without medical training — including on the day he died.
According to the superseding indictment unsealed today, Iwamasa, 59, conspired with Sangha, Fleming, and Plasencia to illegally obtain ketamine and distribute it to Perry.
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Fleming allegedly referred to Sangha’s ketamine source as a “master chef” and a “scientist”, in text messages sent to Iwamasa cited in the indictment. The identity of this mysterious supplier has not been revealed by authorities.
According to the indictment, Iwamasa administered at least 27 shots of ketamine to Perry during the last five days of his life, including three final shots that prosecutors allege resulted in his “death and serious bodily injury.”
The personal assistant later found the actor floating face down in the hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home.
At the time of his death, Perry had about 3.54 micrograms per milliliter of ketamine in his bloodstream –which is nearly three times the normal amount.
Just four days earlier, Fleming had traveled to Sangha’s “Stash House” and purchased 25 vials of ketamine from Sangha in exchange for cash, the indictment claims.
“As part of the transaction, Sangha included ketamine lollipops as an “add on” for Perry’s “large ketamine order”, the document alleges.
Plasencia sold the ketamine to Iwamasa for $6,000 cash, despite being informed at least one week earlier that Perry’s ketamine addiction was spiraling out of control, the US Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, said in a statement.
Perry was seeking treatment for his mental health struggles when he fell back into active drug addiction last year, DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said Thursday.
“Today we announce charges brought against the five individuals who, together, are responsible for the death of Matthew Perry,” Milgram said.
“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.
“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.”
According to court documents, Plasencia learned Perry was interested in obtaining ketamine in September 2023, and discussed how much to charge him in text messages to Chavez.
“I wonder how much this moron will pay…Lets [sic] find out,” Plasencia allegedly wrote.
Plasencia offered to sell more ketamine to Iwamasa for Perry the day before the star died.
“I know you mentioned taking a break,” Plasencia wrote to the assistant in a text message on October 27, according to the indictment.
“I have been stocking up on the (sic) meanwhile. I am not sure when you guys plan to resume but in case it’s when I’m out of town this weekend I have left supplies with a nurse of mine,” and “I can always let her know the plan. I will be back in town Tuesday.”
Perry was undergoing ketamine therapy for depression, but he had last been treated over a week before he died, according to the autopsy report.
Ketamine is a powerful anaesthetic with psychedelic properties that can be used as an alternative therapy for depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders.
If convicted of all charges, Sangha faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Plasencia faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each ketamine-related count and up to 20 years in federal prison for each record’s falsification count.
Fleming faces up to 25 years when sentenced in his federal case.
Chavez will be arraigned on August 30. At sentencing, Chavez will face up to 10 years in federal prison.
