Matthew Perry Investigation: Authorities Reveal How 5 Defendants "Took Advantage" of Actor's Addiction

New details from Matthew Perry's death investigation are being uncovered.

Authorities confirmed in an Aug. 15 press conference that five defendants have been charged in connection with the Friends actor's October 2023 death.

"That investigation has revealed a broad underground criminal network responsible for distributing large quantities of ketamine to Mr. Perry and others," attorney Martin Estrada said. "These defendants took advantage of Mr. Perry's addiction issues to enrich themselves."

"They knew what they were doing was wrong," he continued. "They knew what they were doing was risking great danger to Mr. Perry, but they did it anyways. In the end, these defendants were more interested in profiting off Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being."

The defendants, according to Estrada, include Jasveen Sangha (a.k.a "The Ketamine Queen") and Dr. Salvador Plasencia, both of whom were arrested Aug. 15.

Another defendant is Perry's assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, who—according to a U.S. Attorney's Office press release—pleaded guilty on Aug. 7 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death, "admitted to repeatedly injecting Perry with ketamine without medical training, including performing multiple injections on Perry" on Oct. 28, the day Perry died.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mark Chavez agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and Eric Fleming, who—per the release—"admitted in court documents that he distributed the ketamine that killed Perry," pleaded guilty on Aug. 8 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death.

In the presser, Estrada reflected on the cause of Perry's passing after he was found dead in a hot tub at his Southern California home.

"That autopsy showed that he had died due to the acute effects of ketamine," he noted. "Ketamine is a controlled substance. It has some legitimate uses, but it is also used illegally. It is used by people seeking to disassociate from reality. It can cause serious health effects, serious health problems, including loss of consciousness, including spikes in blood pressure and including respiratory issues that can deprive the brain of oxygen."

Per Estrada, it's for that reason that ketamine must be administered by medical professionals and monitored closely. In Perry's case, he said, that's not what happened.

"This investigation focused on who supplied the ketamine to Mr. Perry," he continued. "As many of you know, Mr. Perry struggled with addiction in the past. On many occasions, he sought help for his addiction issues."

"The investigation revealed in the fall of 2023 Mr. Perry fell back into addiction," Estrada noted, "and these defendants took advantage to profit for themselves."

Estrada went on to share that Plasencia, 42, and Sangha, 41, are the lead defendants in this case.

"Defendant Plasencia was a medical doctor," Estrada said. "He worked with another medical doctor, Defendant Mark Chavez, to obtain ketamine. He then worked with Mr. Perry's live-in assistant, defendant Kenneth Iwamasa, to distribute that ketamine to Mr. Perry over two months, from September to October 2023, they distributed approximately 20 vials of ketamine to Mr. Perry in exchange for $55,000 in cash."

As details continue to emerge in the case, Perry's loved ones are speaking out.

“We were and still are heartbroken by Matthew’s death," his family shared in a statement obtained by NBC News Aug. 15, "but it has helped to know law enforcement has taken his case very seriously. We look forward to justice taking its course.”