Queen of Ketamine Pleads Guilty in Matthew Perry Case

The woman dubbed the “Queen of Ketamine” is admitting guilt for her role in providing the drug that led to Matthew Perry’s death. Jasveen Sangha plans to change her initial not guilty plea in a federal court in Los Angeles, making her the fifth defendant connected to the “Friends” star’s overdose case to enter a guilty plea following an agreement with prosecutors.

In a signed statement, Sangha accepted a plea deal that includes five federal charges, one of which pertains to supplying ketamine that directly contributed to Perry’s death. A trial was initially scheduled to commence later this month.

When the plea deal was made public on August 18, Sangha’s lawyer, Mark Jelagos, remarked that she acknowledges her responsibility for her actions. Prosecutors have characterized Sangha, a 42-year-old from both the U.S. and the UK, as a significant drug dealer, often referred to as the “Queen of Ketamine.”

This plea agreement includes one count linked to drug distribution, three counts of ketamine distribution, and another count for distribution that resulted in death. In exchange, prosecutors have agreed to dismiss three other charges relating to ketamine distribution and one unrelated methamphetamine distribution charge.

The conclusion of this plea arrangement comes nearly a year after the announcement by federal prosecutors, on October 28, 2023, that multiple individuals had died following a significant investigation.

Sangha’s plea will lead to a sentencing hearing where she faces up to 45 years in prison. Although the judge can’t guarantee adherence to the plea terms, the prosecutor has indicated he will recommend a lesser sentence than the maximum.

Details about co-defendants remain unspecified as of now. Sangha and Dr. Salvador Placencia, who entered a guilty plea earlier in July, emerged as primary targets in this case.

Three additional defendants—Dr. Mark Chavez, Kenneth Iwamasa, and Eric Fleming—similarly pleaded guilty, agreeing to cooperate in the investigation, which implicates Sangha and Placencia.

Matthew Perry was found deceased in his Los Angeles residence by his assistant, who discovered that ketamine, often used as a surgical anesthetic, was a significant factor in his death.

Interestingly, Sangha has showcased her lavish lifestyle on social media, sharing snapshots from various luxurious destinations around the world. Prosecutors noted that she marketed herself to a clientele that included affluent individuals.

In the weeks leading up to his tragic death, Perry was reportedly seeking more ketamine than his doctors provided, which led him to Sangha, facilitated by his friend, Fleming.

In fact, Perry purchased a significant quantity of ketamine from Sangha, including one instance where he paid $6,000 in cash for a vial just days before his passing.

On the day Perry died, communication records indicated that Sangha instructed Fleming to delete their messages—a move that could suggest awareness of the legal implications surrounding their transactions.

Sangha has been in federal custody for nearly a year now. Perry’s struggles with addiction have been publicly known, tracing back to his “Friends” days, where he shot to stardom as Chandler Bing alongside co-stars Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer from 1994 to 2004.