Jasveen Sangha, infamously known as the “Ketamine Queen”, pleaded guilty to supplying the ketamine that led to the death of actor Matthew Perry, marking the fifth and final defendant in the case to admit guilt, AP News reported.
Sangha entered her plea on Wednesday, 3 September, to five federal charges, including providing the ketamine that resulted in Perry’s fatal overdose, just as her trial was slated to commence later this month.
The proceedings were attended by Perry’s mother, Suzanne Perry, and his stepfather, “Dateline” reporter Keith Morrison, who were present in court for the first time since the indictments were announced one year ago. Dressed in tan jail attire, Sangha stood beside her attorney, Mark Geragos, and stated “guilty” five times as US District Court Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett read each charge.
Sangha responded “yes, your honor” to numerous procedural questions, though she expressed uncertainty when asked whether she knew the drugs supplied to co-defendant and middleman Erik Fleming were intended for Perry.
“There was no way I could tell 100%,” she stated, later adding regarding vials of ketamine given to Fleming that “I didn’t know if all of them or some of them” were destined for the actor.
However, these qualifications did not impact her plea agreement.
Federal prosecutors portrayed Sangha, a 42-year-old dual citizen of the US and the UK, as a prolific drug dealer who operated under the moniker “Ketamine Queen,” a term repeatedly cited in official press releases and court documents.
In accordance with an agreement finalised on 18 August, Sangha pleaded guilty to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death.
Sangha also admitted to selling drugs directly to 33-year-old Cody McLaury, who died from an overdose in 2019, though McLaury had no connection to Perry.
Network of supply and high-profile connections
The plea arrangement culminated a year after federal prosecutors announced indictments related to Perry’s death on 28 October 2023, following an extensive investigation. Sangha and Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who pleaded guilty in July, were identified as the primary targets of the probe. Three other individuals—Dr. Mark Chavez, Kenneth Iwamasa, and Erik Fleming—previously pleaded guilty in exchange for their cooperation.
Sangha, who has been in custody for approximately a year while her co-defendants were released on bond, is scheduled for sentencing on 10 December. She faces a maximum of 65 years in prison, though prosecutors have indicated they will seek a shorter term.
Perry was discovered deceased at his Los Angeles residence by his assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. The medical examiner determined that ketamine, commonly used as a surgical anaesthetic, was the primary cause of death.
Although Perry had been legally using ketamine as an off-label treatment for depression under medical supervision, he sought larger quantities than his doctor would provide. This search led him to Sangha through his acquaintance Fleming approximately two weeks before his death.
Prosecutors detailed that Perry purchased substantial amounts of ketamine from Sangha, including 25 vials acquired for $6,000 in cash just four days prior to his death. Fleming had reportedly messaged Perry’s assistant praising Sangha’s ketamine as “amazing” and noting that she dealt exclusively “with high end and celebs.”
Sangha cultivated an image of luxury on social media, sharing photographs with affluent and famous individuals across global cities, while privately operating as a dealer catering to high-profile clients.
Perry’s prolonged struggle with addiction dated back to his tenure on “Friends,” during which he achieved widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Chandler Bing. He starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer throughout the show’s ten-season run on NBC from 1994 to 2004.
