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Justice served today in the Matthew Perry overdose case. Jasveen Sangha, the “Ketamine Queen” who sold lethal doses to the beloved Friends actor, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. Her guilty plea last September, followed by today’s sentencing, marks a pivotal moment in the tragic story that shocked Hollywood.
🔥 Quick Facts
- Sentence: 180 months (15 years) in federal prison handed down April 8, 2026
- Defendant: Jasveen Sangha, 42, of North Hollywood, dubbed the “Ketamine Queen”
- Charges: Five federal counts including distribution of ketamine resulting in death
- Perry’s Death: October 28, 2023, caused by acute ketamine effects injected by his assistant
The Hollywood Drug Dealer Behind a Star’s Tragic End
Jasveen Sangha operated what prosecutors called a “drug-selling emporium” from her North Hollywood residence since at least June 2019. The American-British dual citizen marketed herself as an exclusive dealer catering to high-profile clientele, exploiting their vulnerabilities for profit. Court documents reveal she deliberately targeted Matthew Perry‘s well-known addiction struggles, knowingly supplying highly dangerous doses through intermediaries.
Federal authorities discovered a sophisticated operation when they raided her home in March 2024. Officers found 79 vials of liquid ketamine, thousands of methamphetamine pills, cocaine, counterfeit Xanax, a gold money counting machine, scales, and $5,723 in cash. The evidence painted a picture of calculated, large-scale drug trafficking designed to maximize profits while destroying lives.
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How Matthew Perry Was Supplied the Fatal Drug
Perry had been taking ketamine legally as part of supervised treatment for depression, but Sangha and her network exploited this by flooding the market with illegal doses. In October 2023, Sangha and Erik Fleming sold 51 vials of ketamine to Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s live-in personal assistant. Over several days, Iwamasa repeatedly injected Perry with the designer drug. On October 28, 2023, after at least three injections that morning, Perry died in his hot tub from acute ketamine toxicity.
Sangha’s callousness intensified after learning of Perry’s death. She immediately called Fleming on Signal and instructed him to delete all messages. She updated her own app settings to auto-delete conversations. “Delete all our messages,” she texted, attempting to destroy evidence of her deadly crime.
A Sentence That Reflects Devastating Impact
| Aspect | Details |
| Sentencing Date | April 8, 2026 (Federal Court, Los Angeles) |
| Prison Term | 15 years (180 months) in federal prison |
| Judge | United States District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett |
| Guilty Plea Time | September 2025 (five federal counts) |
| Maximum Possible | 65 years in federal prison |
Perry’s stepmother, Debbie Perry, delivered a powerful impact statement before sentencing. “You caused this,” she told Sangha. “You who has talent for business enough to make money chose the one way that hurts people. Please give this heartless woman the maximum prison sentence so she won’t be able to hurt other families like ours.” Sangha responded by simply accepting her fate.
Federal prosecutors had argued forcefully for the maximum penalty. “For years, Sangha operated a high-volume drug trafficking business out of her North Hollywood residence,” they wrote. “While Sangha worked to expand and profit from her drug trafficking, she knew and disregarded the grave harm her conduct was causing.”
“For years…Sangha operated a high-volume drug trafficking business out of her North Hollywood residence. To cultivate her business, she marketed herself as an exclusive dealer who catered to high-profile Hollywood clientele. While Sangha worked to expand and profit from her drug trafficking, she knew and disregarded the grave harm her conduct was causing.”
— Federal Prosecutors, U.S. Attorney’s Office Central District of California
A Network of Enablers Still Facing Justice
Sangha was not operating alone. Dr. Salvador Plasencia was sentenced to 30 months in December 2025 after repeatedly selling Perry ketamine despite knowing his addiction history. Dr. Mark Chavez, the physician who sold ketamine to Plasencia, received eight months of home detention in October 2024. Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s assistant who administered the fatal injections, is scheduled for sentencing later this month. Erik Fleming, who worked with Sangha to distribute the drug, faces sentencing in June.
The case expanded beyond Sangha’s involvement with Perry. In August 2019, she sold four vials of ketamine to Cody McLaury, who died hours later from an overdose. This second victim strengthened prosecutors’ case and demonstrated Sangha’s pattern of lethal conduct across years.
What This Victory Means for Addiction and Accountability
Matthew Perry’s death shocked the entertainment world and raised crucial questions about drug trafficking targeting vulnerable addicts. Perry had battled addiction for decades with remarkable public honesty about his struggles. Yet even his documented vulnerability became a target for profit-seeking dealers who knew exactly whom they were endangering. Sangha’s 15-year sentence sends a clear message: exploiting someone’s addiction for money carries severe federal consequences.
The Perry case has already spawned multiple documentaries including “Matthew Perry: A Hollywood Tragedy” on Peacock and “Matthew Perry and the Ketamine Queen” on Apple TV and BBC Select. These productions expose the covert criminal network that operated in plain sight, supplying deadly drugs to a beloved figure whose struggles with addiction were widely known. Will Hollywood’s culture finally shift toward accountability?
Watch: The Sentencing Coverage
Sources
- U.S. Department of Justice – Official sentencing press release and court filings
- BBC News – Comprehensive reporting on Jasveen Sangha sentencing and victim impact statements
- The New York Times – Analysis of the “Ketamine Queen” case and Matthew Perry’s addiction journey
