A drug dealer known as the “Ketamine Queen” has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for her role in supplying the dose of ketamine that led to the death of actor Matthew Perry in 2023, a federal court in Los Angeles ruled on Wednesday.
Jasveen Sangha pleaded guilty in September to five felony drug charges, including distributing ketamine resulting in death and maintaining a drug-involved premises.
Dealer admitted supplying ketamine linked to fatal overdose
Prosecutors said Sangha ran a “stash house” in North Hollywood and supplied multiple vials of ketamine that were ultimately used by Perry before his death at age 54.
She admitted selling 51 vials of ketamine to a middleman, who then passed them on through Perry’s personal assistant, leading to repeated injections that resulted in the actor’s fatal overdose.
Sangha also acknowledged she knew the drugs were intended for Perry and admitted to a previous case in 2019 involving a buyer who later died from an overdose.
Court rejects leniency request
During sentencing, Sangha told the court she took “full responsibility” and expressed remorse for her actions.
Her defense argued she had struggled with substance abuse and had taken steps toward rehabilitation while in custody, including attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings.
However, the judge sided with prosecutors and imposed the 15-year sentence, citing the seriousness of the offences and evidence that Sangha continued selling drugs even after Perry’s death.
Matthew Perry’s long struggle with addiction
Perry, best known for playing Chandler Bing in the hit sitcom Friends, was found dead in his Los Angeles home in October 2023.
An autopsy concluded he died from the “acute effects of ketamine,” which contributed to his loss of consciousness and drowning in a hot tub.
The actor had openly spoken about decades of addiction struggles involving alcohol and prescription drugs, which he detailed in his memoir published a year before his death.
Broader criminal case continues
Sangha’s sentencing is part of a wider federal case involving multiple defendants, including doctors and intermediaries accused of supplying ketamine to Perry.
Several co-defendants have already pleaded guilty and received sentences, while others are still awaiting sentencing.
Prosecutors said Perry had become dependent on ketamine treatments before turning to illegal sources when his access through medical providers was restricted.
Sangha’s attorney criticized disparities in sentencing among defendants, arguing others more directly involved in administering the drug received lighter penalties.
