According to a new report, five people are currently facing federal charges in connection with Matthew Perry’s death due to the “acute effects of ketamine.”
Authorities arrested the people, including two doctors and the actor’s personal assistant, during an operation on Thursday morning.
Among those arrested were Jasveen Sangha, dubbed the “ketamine queen” by prosecutors, and Salvador Plasencia, a doctor at an emergency center, according to documents obtained by The New York Times.
They are charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine, distribution of ketamine resulting in death, possession with intent to distribute, and altering and falsifying records.
According to the outlet, Perry’s assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, another doctor, Mark Chavez, and a friend of actor Erik Fleming were also charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine.
Page Six reported Thursday morning that several arrests had been made following the execution of numerous search warrants by various agencies, including a doctor.
Authorities seized computers, phones and other electronic devices and eventually found messages about the late “Friends” star’s desire to illegally purchase ketamine – and also how much he would pay for it.
Perry died on October 28 at the age of 54 from complications after taking ketamine, which caused him to lose consciousness in his hot tub.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office said in an autopsy report released in December that the “Fools Rush In” star died from the “acute effects of ketamine” after he was discovered “floating face down” in his pool at his Malibu, California, estate.
Perry, who rose to fame through his popular role as Chandler Bing on the hit NBC sitcom, had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy at the time of his death. However, his last session had taken place more than a week before his death, leading authorities to believe that the ketamine therapy he took was not under medical supervision.
According to the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, “Ketamine therapy is used to treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, end-of-life care, chronic pain, drug/alcohol issues, and more.”
The autopsy also revealed that the amount of ketamine found in the “Whole Nine Yards” star’s blood was equivalent to the amount that would be used for general anesthesia.
The coroner also said drowning, coronary heart disease and buprenorphine, a drug used to treat drug addiction and pain, contributed to his death.
Perry spoke openly about his brutal battle with drug addiction in his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.
“Not only do I have the disease, but it’s bad,” he wrote. “In fact, it’s as bad as it gets. I’m on the ground all the time. It’s going to kill me…”
