A California woman, widely referred to as the “Ketamine Queen,” has agreed to plead guilty to federal drug charges linked to the tragic overdose of actor Matthew Perry two years ago. Jasveen Sangha, 42, faces a series of serious charges, including one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine that resulted in death or serious bodily injury. The announcement was made by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Sangha is facing a maximum prison sentence of 65 years, according to the prosecutor's office's news release. She is expected to formally enter her guilty plea in the coming weeks, although a sentencing date has yet to be established. Following the announcement, her attorney, Mark Geragos, stated that she is taking responsibility for her actions in connection with the charges.
This guilty plea comes amid a broader investigation into the circumstances surrounding Perry’s death. Several others, including two doctors and the actor’s live-in personal assistant, have already pleaded guilty to ketamine distribution charges related to the actor’s fatal overdose. Perry, 54, was discovered face down in the heated end of his Pacific Palisades pool on October 28, 2023. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office determined that his death was due to an accidental overdose of ketamine, a hallucinogen that has gained popularity as an off-label treatment for depression in recent years.
Matthew Perry had been open about his battles with drug and alcohol addiction. Prior to his death, he had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy to address his depression and anxiety. However, federal prosecutors revealed that he had sought and received unsupervised doses of the drug, leading to a dangerous and “out of control” dependence. The medical examiner's report indicated that the level of ketamine found in Perry's body was equivalent to that used in general anesthesia.
According to the release, Sangha collaborated with an acquaintance of Perry’s, Erik Fleming, to provide the former “Friends” star with ketamine. In the weeks leading up to his overdose, Sangha and Fleming—who also pleaded guilty to drug charges related to Perry's death—sold the actor 51 vials of ketamine. Perry's personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, was implicated as well, having administered the three injections that ultimately led to Perry’s death.
Following Perry's death, a concerning text message from Fleming to Sangha indicated a belief that they were protected from repercussions. He stated, “I’m 90% sure everyone is protected,” further noting, “I never dealt with Perry. Only his Assistant. So the Assistant was the enabler.” The text also referenced an ongoing three-month toxicology screening, questioning whether ketamine remains in the system or is immediately flushed out.
In addition to her connection to Perry's death, Sangha admitted to selling four vials of ketamine to another individual, Cory McLaury, in August 2019. Tragically, McLaury died just hours later from a drug overdose, further highlighting the serious implications of her actions in the ongoing battle against drug-related fatalities.
This case underscores the critical issues surrounding the illegal distribution of drugs like ketamine, reinforcing the need for awareness and prevention in the face of addiction and overdose crises.
