‘Ketamine Queen’ sentenced to 15 years in Matthew Perry overdose death

Ketamine Queen Gets 15-Year Sentence in Matthew Perry Overdose Case

Jasveen Sangha, a 42-year-old woman from Los Angeles, has received a 15-year prison term for her role in the fatal drug overdose of actor Matthew Perry. The sentence follows her guilty plea in September to five charges, including distributing ketamine that contributed to the actor’s death.

Drug-Selling Operations and Lifestyle

Prosecutors labeled Sangha’s residence as a “drug-selling emporium” that sustained a luxurious lifestyle. The home, according to authorities, was a hub for distributing ketamine and other substances. Federal agents discovered numerous vials of the drug during a raid, linking her to a network that supplied it from a North Hollywood stash house since 2019.

“You caused this… You who has talent for business enough to make money chose the one way that hurts people,” Debbie Perry, the actor’s stepmother, stated in a victim impact letter presented to the California court.

Perry, famed for his portrayal of Chandler Bing on the 1990s sitcom *Friends*, had battled addiction for years. His death in October 2023 occurred while he was in the hot tub of his home, attributed to the severe effects of ketamine. The drug, a dissociative anesthetic with hallucinogenic properties, is typically administered by medical professionals.

Multiple Suppliers and Legal Proceedings

Sangha is among five individuals, including medical practitioners and Perry’s assistant, accused of supplying ketamine to him. The actor had been using the drug as part of supervised therapy for depression. Her plea agreement also included guilt for selling ketamine to Cody McLaury in August 2019, whose overdose death was linked to the transaction.

During her sentencing, Sangha’s legal team sought a lighter penalty, citing her “acceptance of responsibility” and lack of prior criminal history. However, Debbie Perry urged the judge to impose the maximum possible sentence, emphasizing the “irreversible” harm Sangha caused to their family.

Other Defendants and Sentences

Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who provided Perry with ketamine weeks before his death, was sentenced in December to 30 months in prison. Similarly, Dr. Mark Chavez, a California physician who sold the drug to Plasencia, received eight months of home detention and three years of supervised release. Perry’s live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, is set for sentencing later this month, with his legal team requesting a delay. Eric Fleming, who distributed ketamine obtained from Sangha, will be sentenced in June.