Federal prosecutors have announced criminal charges against five individuals, including two doctors, in relation to the death of beloved "Friends" actor Matthew Perry. The charges come almost a year after Perry was found unresponsive at his Los Angeles home. U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, Martin Estrada, revealed at a press conference that the defendants were part of a "broad underground criminal network" that distributed large quantities of ketamine to Perry and others.

The five defendants facing charges include the actor's live-in assistant, a major drug supplier known as the "Ketamine Queen," and the two doctors who allegedly distributed the drug. Prosecutors claim that the defendants exploited Perry's addiction issues for personal gain, prioritizing financial profit over his well-being.

According to the recently unsealed 18-count superseding indictment, it was Jasveen Sangha, identified as the "Ketamine Queen," who distributed the fatal dose of ketamine on October 24, 2023. Eric Fleming, one of the co-defendants, admitted to providing Perry's assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, with 50 vials of ketamine, half of which were given just four days prior to the actor's death. Fleming obtained the drugs from Sangha.

Federal prosecutors revealed that Perry's assistant, Iwamasa, confessed to repeatedly injecting the actor without any medical training, administering multiple injections on the day of his passing. Additionally, Dr. Salvador Plasencia, known as "Dr. P," and Dr. Mark Chavez, were charged for their involvement in the distribution and misuse of ketamine. Chavez confessed in his plea agreement to selling the drug to Plasencia, including some that he diverted from his former ketamine clinic. Chavez also admitted to illicitly obtaining ketamine by submitting a fraudulent prescription.

The toxicology report released by the Los Angeles County medical examiner attributed Perry's cause of death to the acute effects of ketamine, with contributing factors including drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid use disorder.

The arrest of the defendants comes after an open criminal investigation into Perry's death by the Los Angeles Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency. The shocking and untimely passing of the 54-year-old actor saddened his former "Friends" colleagues and fans worldwide.

Perry, best known for his iconic portrayal of Chandler Bing, had been undergoing medically supervised ketamine treatments for depression and anxiety. The autopsy report clarified that the prescribed treatments were not implicated in his cause of death. However, trace amounts of ketamine were found in his stomach, suggesting he had consumed the drug through another route.

Ketamine, classified as a Schedule III substance by the DEA, has gained recognition for its therapeutic uses in recent years. Its recreational use, however, can be highly dangerous. While ketamine doesn't typically pose the same respiratory risks as opioids and other anesthetics, it should only be administered under professional medical supervision.

The defendants involved in the tragic demise of Matthew Perry now face federal charges, marking significant progress in the pursuit of justice for the beloved actor. As the legal process unfolds, the memory of Perry's talent and the impact he had on popular culture will endure.