Doctor and alleged drug dealer charged with 18 counts in actor’s death

A licensed physician and a suspected drug dealer from the San Fernando Valley were arrested today in connection with the October 2023 death of actor Matthew Perry, who reportedly died of a ketamine overdose at his Pacific Palisades home. The Friends The star also had a house above the Sunset Strip, near Beverly Hills.

The two individuals, Jasveen Sangha, 41, of North Hollywood, known as “The Ketamine Queen,” and Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 42, of Santa Monica, face multiple charges, including conspiracy to distribute ketamine. They were among five defendants accused of involvement in Perry’s death, according to an 18-count indictment unsealed today.

Sangha, who faces multiple charges related to the distribution of ketamine and methamphetamine, is alleged to have supplied the ketamine that led to Perry’s fatal overdose on October 24, 2023. Plasencia, who is accused of ketamine trafficking and forgery, is alleged to have supplied Perry with the drug in the final weeks of his life.

“These defendants were more concerned with profiting from Mr. Perry than with his well-being,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “This case sends a clear message that we will hold drug traffickers accountable for the deaths they caused.”

LAPD Chief Dominic Choi praised the cooperation that led to the arrests, noting that officers “witnessed firsthand the damage these narcotics can do.”

The DEA also announced that three additional defendants have been charged. Erik Fleming, 54, of Hawthorne; Kenneth Iwamasa, 59, of Toluca Lake; and Dr. Mark Chavez, 54, of San Diego have either pleaded guilty or agreed to plead guilty in connection with Perry’s death.

According to court documents, the group conspired to supply Perry with ketamine, often using false prescriptions and unsafe methods. Plasencia and Chavez, both doctors, are said to have abused their offices to obtain and distribute the drug, while Iwamasa and Fleming were involved in administering it to Perry.

Sangha, who has been linked to drug trafficking since at least 2019, continued to distribute ketamine despite being aware of the dangers, the indictment says.

If convicted, the defendants face long prison sentences. Sangha faces a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life imprisonment. The investigation was conducted by the Los Angeles Police Department, the DEA and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

An accusation is merely an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.