'Ketamine Queen' Jasveen Sangha Jailed for 15 Years Over Matthew Perry's Death
Jasveen Sangha, the Los Angeles drug dealer dubbed the "Ketamine Queen," has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for her role in supplying the ketamine that caused the overdose death of Friends star Matthew Perry in October 2023.
The sentence was handed down on 8 April by US District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, who also imposed three years of supervised release. Sangha had pleaded guilty in September 2025 to five federal charges, including distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Prosecutors had requested the 15-year term, emphasising her "cold callousness and disregard for life" and her choice of "profits over people."
The Case Against Sangha
Sangha used her North Hollywood home to store, package, and distribute drugs including ketamine and methamphetamine from at least 2019. In the month Perry died, she and co-conspirator Erik Fleming sold him 51 vials of ketamine, which were then provided to Perry's live-in personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, who repeatedly injected the actor with the drug — including at least three shots on the day of his death.
Perry, who was 54 and best known for playing Chandler Bing in Friends, was found dead at his Pacific Palisades home on 28 October 2023. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined his death was an accidental overdose due to the acute effects of ketamine, with contributing factors including drowning and coronary artery disease. Perry had been undergoing legal ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety but had sought unsupervised doses, leading to a spiralling dependence.
Victim Impact
Perry's stepfather, journalist Keith Morrison, addressed Sangha directly at the sentencing, saying he did not hate her but that she "supplied an addict" and that Perry's possibilities "died with him." His stepmother Debbie Perry had submitted a statement asking for the maximum sentence, stating: "The pain you caused is irreversible."
During the sentencing, Sangha expressed remorse, stating: "These were not mistakes. They were horrible decisions," and that she prays for forgiveness daily. Her defence lawyers had requested a sentence of time served, citing her acceptance of responsibility and two years of sobriety while incarcerated.
Other Defendants
Four other individuals were also charged in connection with Perry's death. Dr Salvador Plasencia was sentenced to 30 months in prison in December 2025, while Dr Mark Chavez received eight months of home confinement. Erik Fleming and Kenneth Iwamasa are scheduled to be sentenced separately.
Why It Matters
The case has drawn global attention to the dangers of ketamine misuse and the criminal networks that supply illegal drugs to vulnerable individuals. Judge Garnett noted that Sangha was "probably one of the most culpable" of the charged defendants. Read more at BBC News.
