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to fans, matthew perry, best known as chandler bing, was the funny character from friends who'd made

to fans, matthew perry, best known as chandler bing, was the funny characterfrom friends, who'd maderuggled with drugs and alcohol throughout his career. i'm in control of the first drink, and so i do all these things to protect myself from not having the first drink. sure. at the time of his death, he was said to have been undergoing therapy for depression — taking small doses of ketamine. but when he was found in the jacuzzi at his home, the levels of the drug in his body were much higher. the five people facing charges are alleged to be part of a criminal network, supplying the drug, including two doctors, who used the actor say law enforcement as a way to make money. these defendants took advantage of mr perry's addiction issues to enrich themselves. they knew what they were doing was wrong. were doing was risking great danger to mr perry, but they did it anyways. the desperation that led perry to these individuals was not met with help, as it should have been from the doctors, but instead it was met with exploitation — exploitation by those who should have guided him toward help

for ten seasons, perry made millions of viewers laugh playing chandler bing in the wildly popular "friends." but behind those laughs, he waged a grim and painful battle with addiction. abc's chief national correspondent matt gutman leading us off tonight from los angeles. >> reporter: tonight, that stunning development in the death of "friends" star matthew perry. federal prosecutors charging five people in connection with the fatal overdose that killed the 54-year-old. >> these defendants took advantage of mr. perry's addiction issues to enrich themselves. in the end, these defendants were more interested in profiting off mr. perry than caring for his well-being. >> reporter: last october, perry was found dead in the hot tub of his los angeles home. the medical examiner determining he died from the "acute effects of ketamine." today, the u.s attorney detailing what he called a broad criminal network responsible for illegally distributing large amounts of the drug to perry. >> over two months, from september to october 2023, they distributed approximately 20 vials of ketamine to mr. perry

to fans, matthew perry, best known as chandler bing, was the funny characterfrom friends who'd made noh drugs and alcohol throughout his career. i'm in control of the first drink and so i do all these things to protect myself from not having the first drink. at the time of his death, he was said to have been undergoing therapy for depression, taking small doses of ketamine. but when he was found in the jacuzzi at his home, the levels of the drug in his body were much higher. the five people facing charges are alleged to be part of a criminal network supplying the drug, including two doctors, who used the actor, say law enforcement, as a way to make money. these defendants took advantage of mr perry's addiction issues to enrich themselves. they knew what they were doing was wrong. they knew what they were doing was risking great danger to mr perry, but they did it anyways. the desperation that led perry to these individuals was not met with help as it should have been from the doctors, but instead it was met with exploitation. exploitation by those have should have guided him towards he

to fans, matthew perry, best known as chandler bing, was the funny character from friends who'd madef his flaws. he'd struggled with drugs and alcohol throughout his career. i'm in control of the first drink and so i do all these things to protect myself from not having the first drink. at the time of his death, he was said to have been undergoing therapy for depression, taking small doses of ketamine. but when he was found in the jacuzzi at his home, the levels of the drug in his body were much higher. the five people facing charges are alleged to be part of a criminal network supplying the drug, including two doctors, who used the actor, say law enforcement, as a way to make money. these defendants took advantage of mr perry's addiction issues to enrich themselves. they knew what they were doing was wrong. were doing was risking great danger to mr perry, but they did it anyways. the desperation that led perry to these _ the desperation that led perry to these individuals— the desperation that led perry to these individuals was _ the desperation that led perry to these individuals w

to fans, matthew perry, best known as chandler bing, was the funny character from friends who'd madef his flaws. he'd struggled with drugs and alcohol throughout his career. i'm in control of the first drink, and so i do all these things to protect myself from not having the first drink. sure. at the time of his death, he was said to have been undergoing therapy for depression, taking small doses of ketamine. but when he was found in the jacuzzi at his home, the levels of the drug in his body were much higher. the five people facing charges are alleged to be part of a criminal network supplying the drug, including two doctors who used the actor say law enforcement as a way to make money. these defendants took advantage of mr. perry's addiction issues to enrich themselves. they knew what they were doing was wrong. were doing was risking great danger to mr. perry, but they did it anyways. the desperation that led perry. to these individuals was not met with help, as it should have been from the doctors, - but instead it was met- with exploitation, exploitation by those who should have

that he would prefer to be remembered for helping people rather than for his work on friends as chandler bing. perhaps what has happened in the tragic details that we are discussing today can help others and save lives. i want to thank the los angeles police department, the united states postal inspection service, and the united states attorney's office in the central district of california. for their tremendous partnership and their outstanding dedication to this case. i also have the privilege of serving every single day with men and women of the dea and today i want to particularly recognize the outstanding work of our los angeles field division as well as our diversion investigators who tirelessly worked on this case to deliver justice to the victims and their families. thank you. it is now my privilege to introduce the postal inspector chief. >> bret: dea administrator there and we heard from the los angeles police chief and also the u.s. attorney. five people charged in the death of matthew perry for providing him with large amounts of ketamine. matt finn has been following this story r

now charged in the death of this sometimes sardonic star known as chandler bing on one of the most successful sitcoms of all time to 15, coffee house harry had a long history of drug abuse and mental health struggles matthew perry sought treatment for depression and anxiety and went to a local clinic where he became addicted to intravenous ketamine. when clinic doctors refused to increase his dosage, he turned to unscrupulous doctors, don't mark chavez has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to sell the drug to dr. salvador plasencia, who allegedly would inject perry and expressed a desire to be his go-to for drugs. >> he wrote in a text message in september 2023 quote, i wonder how much this moron will pay. >> prosecutors allege those doctors may tens of thousands of dollars from the friends star base supplied matthew perry with large amounts of ketamine in exchange for large sums of money charging perry $2,000 for a vial that cost dr. chavez approximately $12 when i became too much, prosecutors say perry turn to a street supplier. he was 54 when he died last october. >> i think he's probab

the 54 year old actor, who most famously played chandler bing in the hit us sitcom friends, was foundsponsive in the swimming pool at his residence in los angeles in december. perry's death was ruled an accident from the acute effects of ketamine. a medical examiner said perry had been receiving ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety, with his last known treatment one and a half weeks pnor treatment one and a half weeks prior to his death. united states attorney for the central district of california martin estrada spoke during a press conference this evening. >> as i mentioned, the defendants in this case knew what they were doing was wrong. when they refer to the ketamine they used coded language. they refer to it using terms such as quote, doctor pepper or quote bots or quote cans. also, defendants plascencia and chavez as medical doctors knew full well this was not the proper way to administer ketamine. and they even talked about that in their exchanges. >> those are the latest gb news headlines. for now, i'm tatiana sanchez. i'll be back with more in an hour for the

that he would prefer to be remembered for helping people rather than for his work on "friends" as chandler bingd so perhaps what has happened and the tragic details we are discussing today can help others and save lives. i want to thank the los angeles police department, the united states postal inspection service, and the united states attorneys office in the central district of california for their tremendous partnership and their outstanding dedication to this case. i also have the privilege of serving every single day with the men and women of the dea and today i want to particularly recognize the outstanding work of our los angeles field division as well as our diversion investigators who tirelessly worked on this case to bring justice to the victims and the families. thank you. it's now my privilege to introduce postal inspector shields. >> good morning. and again, welcome. i'd like to thank u.s. attorney mar estrada and his partnership with the postal inspection service. as the nation's oldest law enforcement agency, the postal inspection service has had a long, proud, and successful his

. >> among the five now charged in the death of sometimes sardonic star known as chandler bing on one of the most successful sitcoms of all time to 15 coffeehouse, perry had a long history of drug abuse and mental health struggles matthew perry sought treatment for depression and anxiety and went to a local clinic where he became addicted to intravenous ketamine. when clinic doctors refused to increase his dosage, he turned to unscrupulous doctors, dr. mark chavez has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to sell the drug to dr. salvador plus-end cia, who allegedly would inject perry and expressed a desire to be his go-to the drugs he wrote in a text message in september 2023, quote, i wonder how much this moron will pay prosecutors allege those doctors may tens of thousands of dollars from the friends star they supplied matthew perry with large amounts of ketamine in exchange for large sums of money charging perry $2,000 for a vial that cost dr. chavez approximately 12 dollars when i became too much, prosecutors say perry turned to a street supplier. >> he was 54 when he died last oct

and of course, we're seeing a lot of pictures of perry as chandler bing. this is part of why he's just so beloved by so many across america. this really tragic story, joey jackson thank you very much for being with us. i appreciate it all right still ahead here on cnn this morning, another zoom call featuring jewish supporters of vice president there as well, a familiar attack line from donald trump against certain jewish voters reappears that one of his events plus new york city mayor near city's mayor, now facing even more legal trouble in a federal investigation anderson cooper, 360 tonight at 8:00 on cnn hey, vira locks, can you imagine the progressive lens of the future? you mean a lens engineered with artificial intelligence, powered by individual measurements of your visual behavior. a lens personalized to you by an slr expert optician discovered their luxe xr track progressive lenses, and experienced instance sharp vision in motion and seamless transitions from near to far there or luxe by slr these bills are crazy she's no idea. >> she sitting on

doctors who are accused of supplying the star with the drug, to fans, matthew perry, best known as chandler bingfirst drink _ his career. i am in control of the first drink so _ his career. i am in control of the first drink so i _ his career. i am in control of the first drink so i do _ his career. i am in control of the first drink so i do all _ his career. i am in control of the first drink so i do all the - his career. i am in control of the first drink so i do all the things i first drink so i do all the things to protect myself from not having the first drink. weight at the time of his death he was undergoing therapy for depression taking small doses of depression. getting in. the five people facing charges are alleged to be part of a criminal network supplying drugs, including two doctors who used the actor is way to make money.— two doctors who used the actor is way to make money. these defendants took advantage — way to make money. these defendants took advantage his _ way to make money. these defendants took advantage his addiction _ way to make money. these defendants took advantage h

to fans, matthew perry, best known as chandler bing, was the funny characterfrom friends, who'd madeet of his flaws. he'd struggled with drugs and alcohol throughout his career. i'm in control of the first drink, and so i do all these things to protect myself from not having the first drink. sure. at the time of his death, he was said to have been undergoing therapy for depression — taking small doses of ketamine. but when he was found in the jacuzzi at his home, the levels of the drug in his body were much higher. the five people facing charges are alleged to be part of a criminal network, supplying the drug, including two doctors, who used the actor say law enforcement as a way to make money. these defendants took advantage of mr perry's addiction issues to enrich themselves. they knew what they were doing was wrong. were doing was risking great danger to mr perry, but they did it anyways. the desperation that led perry to these individuals was not met with help, as it should have been from the doctors, but instead it was met with exploitation — exploitation by those who should hav

. ♪ matthew perry shot to fame playing chandler bing on friends.2 acknowledging that sobriety for him has been a life long challenge. >> how will we know when you're in trouble? when you're not okay? >> if i say, i'm just gonna chill alone at home tonight. and part two, the other thing, is if i ever say i'm cured. >> both dr. plasencia and the alleged ketamine queen have pleaded not guilty. if convicted they face decades in prison. the other three have pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in the coming weeks. matthew perry's family releasing a statement saying they remain heart broken by the loss, but that it has helped to know law enforcement has taken this case very seriously. guys? >> michael: all right matt gutman, thank you very much for that. let's bring in abc news chief legal analyst dan abrams. how strong is this case? >> pretty strong. you got two things. number one the days of drug dealing and calling someone on the phone and ordering drugs is over. text messages. you got actual written evidence that shows people trying to buy it. number