Five people have been charged in the ketamine overdose death last year of actor Matthew Perry, star of the popular TV series “Friends,” a U.S. federal prosecutor said Thursday.
“The defendants took advantage of Perry’s addiction problems to enrich themselves. They knew what they were doing was wrong. They knew it was a huge risk for Perry, but they did it anyway,” said California State Attorney Martin Estrada.
“In the end, these defendants were more interested in profiting from Mr. Perry than in caring about his well-being,” Estrada said.
The five include two doctors and the actor’s assistant.
One of the doctors faces up to 120 years in prison
One of the doctors, Salvador Plasencia, faces up to 120 years in federal prison, Estrada said.
Earlier, NBC television reported one arrest, citing law enforcement officials, while celebrity news site TMZ said “multiple” arrests had been made, including that of a doctor, as part of a police investigation into how the actor obtained the drugs.
According to TMZ, citing law enforcement sources, “at least one doctor has been arrested, along with several dealers who helped organize and deliver the ketamine to Perry.”
A controlled drug
An autopsy had determined the death was caused by “the acute effects of ketamine,” a controlled substance the recovering addict is believed to have been taking as part of supervised therapy.
How Perry obtained the drug — he had reportedly missed his ketamine infusion session for several days — became the subject of a legal investigation, and Los Angeles police confirmed in May that they were investigating the death.
Although only small amounts were found in his stomach, high levels were detected in his bloodstream.
Hallucinogenic effects
Ketamine is often used by doctors and veterinarians as an anesthetic, and scientists have tested its use as a treatment for depression. Underground users consume it illegally for its hallucinogenic effects.
Perry, who played the character Chandler Bing in the hit American television series from 1994 to 2004, was found unconscious in his swimming pool in October 2023 and presumed dead at the age of 54, sparking an outpouring of grief among his fans around the world and colleagues.
“Friends,” which followed the lives of six New Yorkers as they navigated adulthood, dating and careers, attracted a worldwide following and turned previously unknown actors into megastars who earned a place in the lives of millions of viewers.
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