LOS ANGELES (Diya TV) — Jasveen Sangha, the 42-year-old dual U.S. and U.K. citizen known as the “Ketamine Queen,” has pleaded guilty to federal charges tied to the 2023 overdose death of actor Matthew Perry.
Federal prosecutors announced the plea deal on August 18. Sangha admitted to running a large-scale drug operation and supplying Perry with ketamine in the weeks leading up to his death.
Sangha pleaded guilty to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distributing ketamine, and one count of distributing ketamine resulting in death. Her plea deal leaves her facing up to 45 years in prison.
Prosecutors said she distributed drugs from her North Hollywood home, including ketamine, MDMA, Xanax, and cocaine. She continued supplying Perry despite his well-documented history of addiction.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined Perry died of “acute effects of ketamine toxicity” at his Los Angeles residence on October 28, 2023.
Court documents revealed Sangha’s drug network extended far beyond Perry. She admitted to selling ketamine to another individual, Cody McLaury, who died of an overdose in 2019.
The plea deal also connected Sangha to several other defendants in the case. Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who entered a guilty plea in June, allegedly began supplying Perry with ketamine a month before his death. Perry later turned to Sangha for larger quantities.
Three others — Dr. Mark Chavez, Kenneth Iwamasa, and Erik Fleming — pleaded guilty last year in exchange for cooperation with prosecutors. Their testimony tied Sangha directly to Perry’s fatal drug supply chain.
According to investigators, Perry began receiving ketamine legally as a treatment for depression. When his doctors limited the supply, he turned to underground sources.
Prosecutors said he bought 25 vials of ketamine for $6,000 in cash from Sangha just four days before his death. Fleming and Iwamasa allegedly acted as middlemen during the transactions.
On the day of Perry’s death, Sangha told Fleming to delete their text messages, prosecutors said.
Perry’s assistant, Iwamasa, discovered his body at home on October 28, 2023. The actor’s death shocked fans worldwide and reignited conversations about addiction and mental health in Hollywood.
The Drug Enforcement Administration raided Sangha’s North Hollywood residence in March 2024. Agents found large amounts of ketamine and methamphetamine inside the home.
Sangha was indicted in June 2024, arrested that August, and has been in custody since then.
Prosecutors described her as a “prolific drug dealer” who preyed on vulnerable clients. The Department of Justice said her plea agreement is part of a broader effort to dismantle dangerous ketamine distribution networks in Los Angeles.
Sangha’s sentencing date has not yet been set. She could receive up to 45 years in federal prison, depending on the court’s decision.
The case highlights how ketamine, a powerful anesthetic often used in medical treatments, has also become a sought-after recreational drug. Federal authorities warn that misuse can lead to fatal overdoses, as seen in Perry’s case.
Matthew Perry, best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the hit sitcom Friends, openly spoke about his struggles with addiction during his career. His sudden death at 54 renewed focus on the dangers of substance abuse and the need for stronger safeguards around prescription and experimental treatments.
While his fans continue to mourn, the prosecution of Sangha and others involved in his final weeks reflects federal efforts to hold drug suppliers accountable.
As the “Ketamine Queen” awaits sentencing, the case remains a sobering reminder of how illegal drug networks can have tragic consequences, even for beloved public figures.
