Jasveen Sangha: ‘Ketamine Queen’ gets 15 years in Matthew Perry overdose death

Jasveen Sangha, the Los Angeles drug dealer known as the “Ketamine Queen”, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for supplying the ketamine linked to the death of Friends star Matthew Perry.

The 42-year-old pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges, including distributing ketamine resulting in death, in a case that has drawn global attention following the actor’s sudden death in October 2023.

Prosecutors said Sangha operated what they described as a “drug-selling emporium” from her North Hollywood home, supplying ketamine and other narcotics to wealthy and well-connected clients.

Central figure in Matthew Perry case

Perry, widely known for playing Chandler Bing in Friends, was found dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home. Investigators ruled that the cause of death was the acute effects of ketamine.

Authorities said Sangha was among several individuals who supplied the drug to the actor, allegedly exploiting his long-standing struggles with addiction.

In a powerful victim impact statement, Perry’s stepmother Debbie Perry urged the court to hand down the maximum sentence, describing the damage caused as “irreversible”.

“You caused this… Please give this heartless woman the maximum prison sentence so she won’t be able to hurt other families like ours,” she said.

Court hears details of drug operation

Federal investigators uncovered dozens of ketamine vials during a raid at Sangha’s home, along with thousands of pills including methamphetamine, cocaine and Xanax.

Prosecutors said she had been supplying drugs from her property since at least 2019, with Sangha also admitting to a separate fatal overdose case linked to ketamine she sold that year.

Despite her apology in court, the judge noted Sangha had shown little remorse in the years following her arrest before handing down the sentence.

Wider network behind Perry’s death

Sangha is one of five people charged in connection with Perry’s overdose, in what authorities described as a network that supplied the drug to the actor.

Dr Salvador Plasencia, who provided ketamine to Perry in the weeks leading up to his death, was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Another doctor, Mark Chavez, received home detention and supervised release after admitting to illegally obtaining and selling the drug.

Perry’s assistant, who helped administer ketamine, and another supplier are still awaiting sentencing.