The significance of prosecuting celebrity drug-related demises, as per the viewpoints of legal professionals, and the message it conveys.
Detectives implicated several individuals in the allegations, including two physicians, Perry's live-in helper, and a woman known as the “Ketamine Queen” of North Hollywood, Jasveen Sangha. Sangha has pleaded not guilty to charges such as planning to distribute ketamine, maintaining a property used for drug activities, possessing drugs with the intent to sell methamphetamine and ketamine, as well as distributing ketamine multiple times. Her lawyer has not commented on CNN's request for comment.
The accusations stemmed from the discovery of an underground network of drug manufacturers and sellers who allegedly supplied the potentially lethal ketamine that led to Perry's death on October 28, 2023, as previously reported by CNN.
This scenario shares similarities with the criminal charges filed following the September 2018 death of rapper Mac Miller, 26, due to his accidental overdose from fentanyl, cocaine, and ethanol.
Two defendants received prison sentences relating to Miller's death. Ryan Reavis, allegedly supplying drugs to Miller two days prior to his overdose, was sentenced to more than 10 years in April 2022 after confessing to a federal count of fentanyl distribution. Stephen Walter, who pleaded guilty to a single fentanyl distribution offense, was handed a 17-year-prison sentence by a California federal judge in May 2022, as per NPR.
Before Miller, the death of Prince, a platinum-selling musician who died at 57 in April 2016, occurred after being found unconscious in his Chanhassen, Minnesota, home and studio elevator. Regrettably, no charges were filed in connection with Prince’s death, as the authorities couldn't find sufficient evidence proving who provided him with the counterfeit fentanyl-laced Vicodin pills or how he obtained them.
Additionally, Michael Schulenberg, a doctor from Minnesota, agreed to a settlement amounting to $30,000 in 2016 for writing a prescription for Percocet for a friend of Prince, knowing that the addicted artist would use them, according to CNN. Schulenberg declined to admit any liability as part of the settlement, expressed that he did not prescribe opiates with the intention that they be given to Prince, and his attorney commented on it, as previously reported.
After the death of Michael Jackson in 2009, his doctor, Conrad Murray, was incarcerated for 4 years in 2011 after being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for his negligence leading to the singer’s overdose on propofol, a surgical anesthetic.
Legal experts believe that high-profile drug-related cases, such as those discussed, can effectively deter illicit drug activities.
“The significance of these high-profile cases principally stems from their wide exposure, putting a magnifying glass on the broader implications of the drug problem,” said Andrew Pickett, a principal lawyer based in Melbourne, Florida. “They provide a clear message to both those skirting the limits of legality and those facilitating substance abuse,” he added.
Do ordinary individuals receive similar prosecutions?
Although the case surrounding the individuals under suspicion in Perry's death has garnered significant attention due to the actor's celebrity status, legal experts state that such prosecutions are not uncommon in noncelebrity cases involving fatal substance abuse incidents.
“People who aren't well-known typically encounter these charges less frequently and quietly because they come from lesser-known circles,” Tre Lovell, a Los Angeles-based entertainment attorney, informed CNN. “However, this case provided an opportunity not only to serve as an example but also to do so in a manner that generated considerable attention given Perry’s popularity.”
One such lesser-known case occurred in January 2023 in the suburban Atlanta neighborhood of Dunwoody, where a 44-year-old drug dealer was charged with felony murder in connection to an overdose death of a 34-year-old man that took place in the previous year, per the Dunwoody Police Department.
Famous individuals' drug-related cases often receive more media exposure, but it may not accurately represent prosecutors' priorities, as pointed out by Bill Powers, a lawyer in Charlotte, North Carolina. “Regardless of the victim's renown, prosecutors pursue drug-related death cases equally for all citizens,” Powers shared with CNN.
On the other hand, Ben Michael, a lawyer with Michael and Associates in Los Angeles, contended that the extensive media attention provided by high-profile drug-related deaths may stimulate authorities to take a more active role in these cases.
“If a police department thinks they can leverage the public’s interest from a celebrity’s death to enhance their department’s reputation and receive more funding, they are likely to do so,” Michael expressed. “This may result in more vigilance and resources devoted to arresting drug dealers involved in celebrity cases rather than non-celebrity cases,” he further explained.
Despite this, Michael underscored that the majority of police departments nationwide are dedicated to apprehending drug dealers, regardless of their victims' fame or notoriety.
"Perry was in a weak state due to his addiction, and these physicians broke the rules by providing him with illicit substances rather than aiding his recovery. This puts them on par with a street-level drug dealer, and even worse because they violated their oath to do no harm," Johnson-Norris explained to CNN regarding the accusations.
"We expect doctors to maintain the highest ethical standards, and this incident serves as a warning that exploiting their professional permissions won't be tolerated," she added, noting that common drug dealers might respond differently.
"Countless drug dealers have less to lose. They don't face the same social stigma as a doctor would if found guilty," Johnson-Norris continued.
"Although the dealer in question could face a life sentence, it's uncertain if these charges will discourage other dealers from peddling ketamine," she went on. "Prosecutors remain persistent in these cases, believing it might have an impact, but statistics suggest otherwise."
Pickett expressed hope that, much like the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act affected criminal organizations, such cases would lead to increased accountability among drug traffickers.
"Carefully handling these cases highlights the significance of pinning down all responsible parties, disregarding the status of the victim," Pickett concluded.
CNN's Scott Glover, John Miller, Lisa Respers France, Holly Yan, Jay Croft, Eric Levenson, and Hollie Silverman were involved in compiling this report.
Us detectives are investigating the role of several individuals in the drug-related case, including physicians, helpers, and well-known figures such as the "Ketamine Queen" of North Hollywood.
After the death of Perry, it's essential for us to examine the accountability of all responsible parties, whether they are high-profile individuals or ordinary drug traffickers, to deter further illicit drug activities.
