A Los Angeles-based drug dealer known as the "Ketamine Queen" was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison Wednesday for her role in the fatal overdose of actor Matthew Perry. Jasveen Sangha, 42, operated a high-end narcotics distribution network that catered to Hollywood’s elite.
Prosecutors successfully argued that Sangha’s illicit business directly led to the death of the 54-year-old "Friends" star. Perry was found unresponsive in the hot tub of his Los Angeles residence in October 2023.
According to sentencing records, Sangha marketed herself as an exclusive supplier to celebrities. "I'm really select with people," she boasted to a prospective client in 2020, describing her network as a "very VIP circle of celebs."
Sangha worked through a middleman, Erik Fleming, to provide 51 vials of ketamine to Perry’s live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. Iwamasa administered multiple injections of the drug to the actor on the day he died. When reports of Perry’s death surfaced, Sangha immediately messaged Fleming, telling him to "delete all our messages."
A network of exploitation
Federal investigators uncovered a cache of narcotics during a raid on Sangha’s residence, including methamphetamine, ecstasy, and counterfeit Xanax. They also seized a money-counting machine and equipment used to detect hidden cameras or surveillance devices.
Prosecutors highlighted the defendant's "cold callousness" in their sentencing memorandum. "She chose profits over people, and her actions have caused immense pain to the victims' families and loved ones," the filing stated.
The investigation into Perry’s death revealed a wider ring of enablers, including medical professionals. Dr. Salvador Plasencia was sentenced to 30 months in prison last year after admitting to distributing ketamine to the actor. In text messages presented in court, Plasencia questioned, "I wonder how much this moron will pay," while charging Perry thousands of dollars for vials that cost a fraction of that price.
Another physician, Mark Chavez, received a sentence of home confinement and community service for his involvement. Perry’s assistant, Iwamasa, and the middleman, Fleming, are awaiting their own sentencings later this month.
Sangha’s plea agreement also addressed the 2019 death of 33-year-old Cody McLaury, to whom she had sold four vials of ketamine. McLaury died from an overdose hours after the purchase. 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.
