A trial date has been set for two of the five people charged in connection with the death of beloved “Friends” actor Matthew Perry.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia and alleged drug trafficker Jasveen Sangha, whom prosecutors also call the “Ketamine Queen,” will be tried together.
The trial is scheduled to begin on March 4, 2025. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for February 19.
Plasencia and Sangha were arrested on Aug. 15 and indicted on charges including falsifying medical records and conspiracy to distribute, among others, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Both Sangha and Plasencia, who prosecutors say contributed to Perry’s death by distributing ketamine to the actor during the final weeks of his life, have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The other three individuals charged in Perry’s death — Dr. Mark Chavez, Perry’s personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa and an acquaintance of Perry’s, Erik Fleming — are cooperating with prosecutors and have reached plea agreements. Fleming and Iwamasa have sentencing dates set for October and November, respectively.
Sangha remains in federal custody and Plasencia is free on bail, according to the Justice Department.
Perry died in October 2023 at age 54 from the “acute effects” of ketamine and subsequent drowning, according to an autopsy report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office. His body was found floating face down in a hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home.
Plasencia was charged with conspiring to distribute ketamine, seven counts of distributing ketamine and two counts of altering or falsifying documents or records related to the federal investigation, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Plasencia allegedly sold vials of ketamine he obtained from Chavez to Perry and Iwamasa “outside the normal course of professional practice and for no legitimate medical purpose” in the weeks leading up to his death.
He is also accused of teaching Iwamasa how to inject Perry with the drug and personally injecting Perry on one occasion, despite being told the actor’s ketamine addiction “was getting out of control.”
If convicted, Plasencia could face up to 10 years in federal prison for each ketamine-related offense and up to 20 years for forgery.
In addition to having legitimate medical uses, ketamine is increasingly popular as a party drug.
“In Hollywood, there are parties and people like to get high … it’s become popular in that circle,” said Dr. David Mahjoubi, who runs one of the hundreds of ketamine clinics that have sprung up in recent years.
Clinics like Mahjoubi’s use forms of the drug in controlled doses and in controlled settings as therapy for mental health issues like depression, anxiety and PTSD. Doctors are free to use drugs for so-called “off-label” uses “as long as they are within acceptable guidelines” and “do not cause harm,” according to Mahjoubi.
“If someone wants to get high on ketamine, they’ll buy it on the street,” Mahjoubi added. “It’ll be a lot cheaper than going to the doctor to get an infusion.”
When the ketamine clinic Perry was being treated at refused to increase his dose, prosecutors say, he went first to Plasencia and then, because of the cost, to Sangha.
Sangha, whom authorities call the “Ketamine Queen” of North Hollywood, ran what amounted to “a drug emporium” out of her home and sold vials of ketamine to Fleming on Perry’s behalf, according to Fleming’s plea agreement.
Prosecutors also claim Sangha was “aware of the danger of ketamine” and continued to sell it even after she was informed that the ketamine she sold to aspiring personal trainer Cody McLaury in August 2019 contributed to his overdose death.
Federal agents and Los Angeles police detectives found more than 70 vials of ketamine, among other “fraudulently obtained” and illegal drugs, after executing search warrants at Sangha’s residence, according to a press release from the U.S. attorney’s office.
She is charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine, maintaining a drug-related premises, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute ketamine and five counts of distribution of ketamine.
Sangha faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
This content was originally published in Doctor and “Ketamine Queen” linked to Matthew Perry case will go to trial on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
