Jasveen Sangha, known as the 'Ketamine Queen,' received a 15-year prison sentence for her role in supplying ketamine that contributed to Matthew Perry's death. The drug dealer pleaded guilty last year to federal charges including distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Perry, the Friends star, died in October 2023 from the acute effects of the drug.
Matthew Perry was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023. The 54-year-old actor's death was attributed to the acute effects of ketamine, with drowning and coronary artery disease as contributing factors. Five individuals faced federal charges in August 2024 related to the case, including Sangha, doctors Mark Chavez and Salvador Plasencia, Perry's assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, and Erik Fleming. Sangha had been in federal custody since her arrest that month. Prosecutors described Sangha's North Hollywood residence as the base of a high-volume drug trafficking operation. They accused her of disregarding the harm caused by her ketamine sales, even continuing after learning her drugs led to Perry's death, according to NBC News. Via Variety, officials noted she knew the grave risks but proceeded anyway. Her defense lawyers submitted a 16-page response stating she had accepted responsibility for her actions. U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer imposed the 15-year sentence plus three years of supervised release on April 9. Perry's stepfather, Keith Morrison, called it a 'highly reasoned sentence' in comments to Today. 'We miss Matthew dreadfully, of course, and I feel badly for the perpetrator here as well. Nobody won today,' Morrison added. Others involved have faced consequences: Salvador Plasencia pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution and is serving two and a half years in prison, while Mark Chavez received three years of probation for conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Perry's assistant, who allegedly administered at least three ketamine injections, and a Sangha associate have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.