Date announced for joint trial of doctor and 'ketamine queen' arrested in connection with Matthew Perry's death
A doctor and a woman allegedly known as 'the ketamine queen' are set to face trial over the death of Matthew Perry.
The Friends actor died from 'acute effects of ketamine' on 28 October aged 54, after he was found 'unconscious in a stand-alone Jacuzzi' at his Los Angeles home.
Last month, police said there had been a 'broad underground criminal network responsible for distributing large quantities of ketamine to Mr Perry and others'.
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United States Attorney, Martin Estrada, told a press conference on 15 August that 'this network included a live-in assistant, various go-betweens, two medical doctors and a major source of drug supply known as the ketamine queen'.
Salvador Plasencia, a doctor from Santa Monica, has been accused of using the actor's live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa to distribute ketamine from September to October last year.
Plasencia will stand trial alongside alleged drug dealer Jasveen Sangha – known as 'the ketamine queen'.
She has been accused of selling ketamine to Perry.
The trial date for the pair - who have denied all charges - is set for 4 March next year, according to newly released court documents.
If found guilty, Sangha is facing life behind bars and Plasencia could face a maximum sentence of 120 years.
"The superseding indictment alleges that Sangha’s distribution of ketamine on October 24, 2023, caused Perry’s death," the US Attorney's Office said.
"Plasencia is charged with seven counts of distribution of ketamine and two counts of altering and falsifying documents or records related to the federal investigation."
One of the three other defendants, who were charged separately last month, has been named as Erik Fleming, 54, of Hawthorne, who admitted in court documents that he distributed the ketamine that killed Perry.
Perry’s live-in personal Iwamasa, 59, of Toluca Lake, conspired with Sangha, Fleming, and Plasencia to illegally obtain ketamine and distribute it to the actor.
He plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death.
Lastly, physician Dr. Mark Chavez, 54, of San Diego, agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.
Following the five arrests, Perry's step-father Keith Morrison issued an emotional statement.
The Dateline correspondent, 77, told PEOPLE: "We were and still are heartbroken by Matthew’s death, but it has helped to know law enforcement has taken his case very seriously.
"We look forward to justice taking its course and we’re grateful for the exceptional work of the multiple agencies whose agents investigated Matthew’s death.
"We’re hoping unscrupulous suppliers of dangerous drugs will get the message."
Topics: Matthew Perry, Celebrity, Drugs
Anish Vij