Police reveal text messages from doctor charged in relation Matthew Perry’s death

Police have revealed text messages from Matthew Perry's doctor, who has since been charged in connection with the actor's death last year.

A press conference was held today (15 August) led by US attorney Martin Estrada.

Dr Salvador Plasencia contacted Dr Mark Chavez, who had operated a ketamine clinic, to obtain ketamine to sell to the Friends star, according to the press release from the Department of Justice.

According to the indictment today, Plasencia had learned of Perry's interest in ketamine back in September 2023 and contacted Chavez, who previously operated a ketamine clinic, to obtain ketamine to sell to the 54-year-old.

The investigation around Perry's death has been outlined to the public (Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for GQ)

In the text messages to Chavez, Plasencia allegedly talked about how much to charge Perry for the ketamine, saying, “I wonder how much this moron will pay”, later adding: “Lets [sic] find out.”

An autopsy had determined that Perry had died as a combined result of drowning and ketamine use - with his death being initially reported as accidental.

The Los Angeles Police Department had previously said they had been working with federal authorities in a criminal investigation since May to investigate where the ketamine Perry had consumed came from.

He reportedly used it as a treatment for depression and anxiety.

But the medical examiner said that the ketamine in Perry’s system 'could not be from that infusion therapy' because his last session took place more than a week before his death.

Perry died in October last year (David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

In a press conference today, attorney Martin Estrada said that there had been a 'broad underground criminal network responsible for distributing large quantities of ketamine to Mr Perry and others'.

"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’," he said.

Jasveen Sangha and Dr Salvador Plasencia have been accused of working with others to distribute ketamine to the actor from September to October 2023.

They distributed approximately 20 vials of ketamine to Perry in exchange for $55,000 (£42,800) in cash, authorities said.

When speaking about Plasencia and Sangha, known as 'The Ketamine Queen', Estrada added: “These defendants cared more about profiting off of Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being.”

Perry will always be remembered as Chandler Bing on Friends. (NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)

DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said: “Today we announce charges brought against the five individuals who, together, are responsible for the death of Matthew Perry,

“We allege each of the defendants played a key role in his death by falsely prescribing, selling, or injecting the ketamine that caused Matthew Perry’s tragic death. Matthew Perry’s journey began with unscrupulous doctors who abused their position of trust because they saw him as a payday, to street dealers who gave him ketamine in unmarked vials," she explained.

The three other defendants, who were charged seperately to Sangha and Plasencia, are:

• Eric Fleming, 54, who pleaded guilty on August 8 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death.
• Kenneth Iwamasa, 59, who conspired with Sangha, Fleming, and Plasencia to illegally obtain ketamine and distribute it to Perry. He pleaded guilty on August 7 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death, admitted to repeatedly injecting Perry with ketamine without medical training, including several on the day that Perry died.
• Dr. Mark Chavez, a physician who has agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine.