Jasveen Sangha, identified as the “Ketamine Queen,” has pleaded guilty to selling the drugs that led to the death of actor Matthew Perry, best known for his role in the television series “Friends.”
Sangha, 42, entered a guilty plea on Wednesday in Los Angeles to five charges, including one count of distributing ketamine resulting in death or bodily injury.
The dual American-British national initially faced nine criminal counts. Federal prosecutors described her Los Angeles residence as a “drug-selling emporium,” where authorities discovered numerous vials of ketamine during a raid.
Matthew Perry was found deceased in a jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home in October 2023. A subsequent examination determined that his death was caused by the acute effects of ketamine.
A sentencing hearing for Sangha, who is currently in federal custody, is scheduled for December 10 in Los Angeles.
While Sangha initially denied the charges, she agreed to change her plea in August, shortly before her trial was set to begin.
She is one of five individuals, including medical doctors and Perry’s assistant, who US officials allege supplied ketamine to the actor. These individuals are accused of exploiting Perry’s addiction for profit, which ultimately led to his overdose death.
The other individuals involved are Dr. Salvador Plasencia and Dr. Mark Chavez, both accused of selling ketamine; Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s live-in assistant, who allegedly assisted in purchasing and administering the drug to the actor; and Eric Fleming, who reportedly sold ketamine acquired from Sangha to Perry.
The remaining four individuals have also agreed to plead guilty to charges in connection with the case. Their sentencing hearings are scheduled for various dates in November and December.
According to the Department of Justice, Sangha could face a maximum sentence of 65 years in federal prison.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) describes ketamine as a dissociative anesthetic with hallucinogenic properties. It can distort perceptions of sight and sound, leading to feelings of detachment and loss of control.
Ketamine is used as an injectable anesthetic for both humans and animals, as it helps patients detach from pain and their surroundings.
Officials emphasize that the substance should only be administered by a physician, and patients who receive the drug should be monitored by a professional due to its potential harmful effects.
Perry’s death, and the subsequent investigation into how he acquired large quantities of the drug over several years, has offered insights into a ketamine drug network in Hollywood, which one doctor described as the “wild west” in an interview with the BBC.
As part of her plea agreement, Sangha also admitted to selling ketamine to Cody McLaury in August 2019, who died hours after the purchase from a drug overdose, according to the Justice Department.
Federal authorities allege that Sangha supplied ketamine from her “stash house” in North Hollywood since at least 2019, and that she worked with celebrities and high-end clients, according to an indictment.
During a search before her arrest in March 2024, more than 80 vials of ketamine were found at the residence, along with thousands of pills containing methamphetamine, cocaine, and Xanax.
Sangha is reported to have socialized with celebrities, and a friend told the Daily Mail that she attended events such as the Golden Globes and the Oscars.
Her social media presence depicted an extravagant lifestyle, including parties and travel to destinations like Japan and Mexico.
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