One of the five people charged in connection with the death of Friends Star Matthew Perry was once a Hollywood director who worked with Scarlett Johansson.
Perry, who is best known for his portrayal of the sarcastic Chandler Bing in Friendsdied in October 2023 at the age of 54. A toxicology report concluded that he died from the “acute effects of ketamine” that led to his drowning in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home.
Yesterday (August 15), five people were arrested and charged with giving the popular actor the ketamine that killed him.
Among them were two doctors, Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez, Perry’s live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, and Jasveen Sangha, the woman known as the “Ketamine Queen.”
The fifth defendant was Erik Fleming, a former director and producer who was described in court documents as an “acquaintance” of Perry.
The 54-year-old already worked with the young Johansson and Eva Mendes on the children’s film in 1999 My brother the pig and produced the 2003 season of the reality show The surreal lifein which stars like Cory Feldman and MC Hammer moved into a villa together.
He also directed episodes of Queer Eye Spin-off Queer Eye for the straight girl in 2005 and previously worked at the production company Rich Hippie.
The U.S. Department of Justice said Fleming coordinated the “drug sale” of ketamine with Sangha and “took cash from Iwamasa to Sangha’s hideout in North Hollywood to purchase vials of ketamine.”
Fleming pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death.
“These defendants exploited Mr. Perry’s addiction problems to enrich themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada. “They knew they were putting Mr. Perry in great danger, but they did it anyway. Ultimately, these defendants were more interested in making a profit.”
Iwamasa pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death, while Chavez, a doctor from San Diego, California, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine.
Plasencia has pleaded not guilty. His trial is scheduled for October 8. He was given permission to continue his medical practice “unrelated to controlled substances” until he is released on bail. He was told, however, that he must post a notice in his office explaining the charges and have his patients sign forms acknowledging they understand the charges. Sangha also pleaded not guilty.
At the time of Perry’s death, sources close to the actor said the star had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy to treat depression and anxiety. However, his last scheduled therapy session was a week and a half before his death, and the medical examiner said the ketamine found in his body “could not have come from that therapy, as the half-life of ketamine is three to four hours or less.”
