LOS ANGELES (AP) — Five people have been charged in connection with Matthew Perry’s death from a ketamine overdose last year, including the actor’s assistant and two doctors. “These defendants took advantage of Mr. Perry’s addiction issues to enrich themselves.
They knew what they were doing was wrong,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said Thursday while announcing the charges.
The five have been charged for their respective roles in supplying Perry with large amounts of ketamine, causing his October 2023 overdose death. Here is what we know so far about those charged after a sweeping investigation into Perry’s death. Plasencia, a Santa Monica area doctor, was arrested Thursday and charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of altering and falsifying documents or records related to the federal investigation.
He pleaded not guilty in his first court appearance Thursday, where he wore street clothes and was in handcuffs and leg chains. A judge ruled he can be released after posting a $100,000 bond. An indictment filed Wednesday alleges that Plasencia, who was commonly known as “Dr.
P,” used encrypted messaging applications and coded language to discuss drug deals, referring to bottles of ketamine as “Dr. Pepper,” “cans,” and “bots.” He is accused of facilitating the transfer of drugs from himself and others who have been charged to Perry’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa.
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