Matthew Perry’s death uncovered ‘Ketamine Queen’, an underground drug network: Report
When Matthew Perry was found dead in his Los Angeles home last year, it was perceived to be accidental. The Friend’s star had been fighting depression and drug addiction. No foul play was expected. In December last year, medical officials confirmed that the death was caused by the “acute effects of ketamine”.
However, shocking results came out that resulted in the arrest of five people including medical doctors, Perry’s assistant and an alleged dealer, whom US prosecutors have described as the “Ketamine Queen”. The new revelation shed light on the alleged vast ketamine-dealing underground network, cover-up attempts – and another death, too, reported BBC.
Authorities allege that the “Ketamine Queen” supplied the drugs that led to Perry’s death on 28 October 2023. ‘Ketamine Queen’, whose real name is Jasveen Sangha, came up several times during the investigation.
The 41-year-old is accused of selling 50 vials of ketamine to him for about $11,000 (£8,550) and is described by prosecutors as a drug trafficker who knew the ketamine she distributed could be deadly, said the report.
Also Read: Matthew Perry’s Death, An Accident Caused by Ketamine
More than 80 vials of ketamine, thousands of pills that included methamphetamine, cocaine and Xanax were allegedly found at her North Hollywood home during the search.
As per the indictment, Sangha only connected with high-end people. Martin Estrada, the US attorney for California’s Central District alleged that Sangha was a “major source of supply for ketamine to others as well as Perry”.
One of the accused in supplying the actor with ketamine, Dr Salvador Plasencia, allegedly alled him “a moron” and wondered how much to charge him for the drug, which was reported to be more than 165 times its price, according to prosecutors.
It is alleged that Perry paid them around $2,000 for vials that actually cost about $12 a piece, said the report. Estrada said that the defendants tried to profit off more from Perry than caring for his well-being.
Also Read: Matthew Perry’s Death: 911 Call Audio Released
Plasencia also allegedly taught Iwamasa, the actor’s live-in assistant, how to inject the drug, even though he had learned “that Perry’s ketamine addiction was spiralling out of control”, according to investigators.
After the Chandler Bing from Friend’s death, those accused of supplying him with the drugs attempted to hide their actions, said the investigation.
It was Perry’s live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who found the actor dead. Investigators say he was also the one who injected Perry with the ketamine that led to his death. Iwamasa never received medical training and “knew little, if anything” about administering controlled substances, said to court documents.
In the four days leading up to and including Perry’s death, prosecutors say Iwamasa administered more than 20 shots of ketamine, three on the day the actor died.
