Criminal charges have been filed against five individuals in connection with the death of "Friends" star Matthew Perry, nearly a year after the actor passed away, law enforcement officials announced on Thursday.

The accused include two doctors and an assistant to Perry, who were allegedly part of a "broad underground criminal network" that illegally distributed large amounts of the prescription drug ketamine to Perry and others, according to U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada.

"These individuals exploited Mr. Perry's struggles with addiction for their own financial gain," Estrada stated during a news conference in Los Angeles.

Perry, who was 54 at the time of his death, died from the "acute effects" of ketamine, a potent sedative, which, combined with other factors, caused him to lose consciousness and drown in his hot tub last October, as confirmed by an autopsy report. For several months, Los Angeles homicide detectives and federal agents investigated how Perry obtained the drug.

The December 2023 autopsy report revealed that Perry had dangerously high levels of ketamine in his system, which, under normal circumstances, would require the supervision of medical professionals, as it is typically used for general anesthesia during surgery. The report also noted that drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine, an opioid addiction medication found in his system, were contributing factors in his death.

Perry had a well-documented history of drug and alcohol abuse, which he had openly discussed, including during his time playing Chandler Bing on the popular 1990s TV show "Friends." He had reportedly been sober for 19 months without any known relapses before his death, according to interviews cited in the autopsy.

Witnesses interviewed for the autopsy report mentioned that Perry had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety, though his last treatment was about a week and a half before his death. The report concluded that the ketamine found in his system must have been introduced after that final treatment.