In a significant development, federal authorities have charged five individuals linked to the death of actor Matthew Perry, who succumbed to a ketamine overdose last year. 

Among those charged are Perry’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, and two doctors accused of supplying the actor with large quantities of the drug.

US Attorney Martin Estrada revealed the charges on Thursday, detailing how the doctors allegedly exploited Perry’s addiction. 

Estrada disclosed that the doctors had provided Perry with substantial amounts of ketamine and expressed in a text message their curiosity about the extent of Perry’s financial willingness.

“These defendants exploited Mr Perry’s struggles for personal gain, fully aware of the illegality of their actions,” Estrada stated. Perry’s death in October was attributed to a ketamine overdose. 

It was reported that on the day of his death, Perry received multiple injections of the drug from his live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who later discovered Perry deceased.

Desperate for the drug, Perry had turned to the two accused doctors after his regular physicians refused to prescribe him ketamine in the quantities he sought.

According to DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, Perry reportedly paid $2,000 for a vial of ketamine that cost the doctors only about $12.

In related news, two of the charged individuals, including one of the doctors, were arrested on Thursday. Additionally, two defendants, including Iwamasa, have already entered guilty pleas, and a third has agreed to do the same.