A woman nicknamed the “Ketamine Queen” and accused of providing the drug that resulted in Matthew Perry’s death has agreed to plead guilty. Jasveen Sangha, the fifth and final defendant in the case involving the overdose death of the beloved Friends star, reached a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, thereby averting a scheduled trial for September.
Sangha, a dual citizen of the U.S. and the U.K., admitted through a signed statement in court to pleading guilty to five federal criminal charges, including supplying the ketamine that led to Perry’s demise. Her attorney, Mark Geragos, simply stated, “She’s taking responsibility for her actions.”
Referred to as the “Ketamine Queen” by prosecutors, Sangha, aged 42, was portrayed as a significant drug dealer who catered to a clientele under that moniker, as depicted in media releases and legal documents related to the case.
The charges against Sangha could lead to a maximum of 45 years in prison. She agreed to plead guilty to offenses such as maintaining a drug-involved premises, distributing ketamine on three counts, and distributing ketamine resulting in death or severe bodily harm on one count.
Following a comprehensive investigation, federal prosecutors revealed a year ago that five individuals were implicated in Perry’s passing on October 28, 2023. Sangha confessed in the agreement to selling four ketamine vials to Cody McLaury, who succumbed to an overdose in 2019, although he had no connection to Perry.
The plea agreement entails Sangha changing her plea to guilty at a forthcoming hearing, where sentencing will be arranged. While the judge is not obligated to adhere to the terms of the plea deal, prosecutors indicated their intention to seek a penalty below the maximum allowed.
Sangha and Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who entered a guilty plea last month, were the primary subjects of the investigation. The other three defendants, Dr. Mark Chavez, Kenneth Iwamasa, and Erik Fleming, had previously agreed to plead guilty in exchange for cooperation, implicating Sangha and Plasencia.
The medical examiner determined that ketamine, commonly used as an anesthetic, was the primary cause of Perry’s death. Perry, who was using ketamine for depression treatment, procured the substance from Plasencia and Sangha before his demise.
Sangha’s affluent lifestyle, portrayed on Instagram alongside celebrities globally, was contrasted by her clandestine identity as a dealer catering to elite clients. Perry had been acquiring ketamine from Sangha through intermediaries, ultimately purchasing a lethal dose that led to his tragic death.
Sangha’s residence in North Hollywood was raided by DEA agents in March 2024, revealing significant amounts of methamphetamines and ketamine. She has been in federal detention for about a year. The plea agreement also entails Sangha relinquishing her property seized during the investigation, including over $5,000 US in cash.
As sentencing for the defendants is pending, Perry’s battle with addiction, which began during his tenure on Friends, where he portrayed Chandler Bing, one of the show’s iconic characters, has come to light. Perry’s struggle was intertwined with his rise to stardom alongside co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer during the ten-season run of the NBC hit series from 1994 to 2004.
