A Los Angeles woman known as the 'Ketamine Queen' was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Tuesday for her role in the death of 'Friends' actor Matthew Perry.
Jasveen Sangha, 42, pleaded guilty to five charges, including distributing ketamine that resulted in death or bodily injury. Prosecutors described her North Hollywood residence as a 'drug-selling emporium' used to supply wealthy clients.
Perry was found dead in his Los Angeles home in October 2023. Investigators determined the cause of death was the acute effects of ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic.
A 'heartless' supply chain
During the sentencing, Sangha sobbed as relatives of the late actor addressed the court. The judge noted that Sangha had shown no remorse in the years following her arrest.
In her address to the court, Sangha admitted her decisions had 'shattered people's lives' and expressed deep shame. Her legal team previously requested leniency, citing her lack of a prior criminal record.
However, Perry's stepmother, Debbie Perry, urged the judge to impose the maximum possible sentence. In a victim impact statement, she accused Sangha of causing 'irreversible' damage.
'You who has talent for $business enough to make money chose the one way that hurts people,' Debbie Perry said. She described Sangha as a 'heartless woman' and requested a sentence that would prevent further harm to families.
Federal authorities discovered dozens of ketamine vials and thousands of pills, including cocaine and Xanax, during a raid on Sangha's home. Investigators allege she operated her stash house in North Hollywood since at least 2019.
Sangha is one of five individuals identified by U.S. officials as part of a supply chain that exploited Perry's addiction for profit. Dr. Salvador Plasencia received a 30-month sentence in December for his role in supplying the drug.
Dr. Mark Chavez, who sold ketamine to Plasencia, was sentenced to eight months of home detention. Other individuals, including Perry's live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, face upcoming sentencing dates in federal court.
