jasveen sangha, dramatically known as the “Ketamine Queen,” has agreed to plead guilty to multiple federal charges, marking a pivotal development in the high-profile overdose case of Friends star Matthew Perry. This plea deal closes a key chapter in a scandal entangled with celebrity addiction, medical ethics, and the underground drug trade.
Plea Deal Revealed: What Was Admitted
According to a Department of Justice press release:
- Jasveen Sangha, a dual citizen of the U.S. and the U.K., has agreed to plead guilty to five federal charges: one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury Department of Justice.
- The charges carry significant potential penalties: up to 20 years for the drug premises count, up to 10 years for each basic distribution count, and up to 15 years for the distribution resulting in death or serious bodily injury, totaling as much as 45 years in prison Department of JusticeReutersLos Angeles Times.
- Sangha has been in federal custody since August 2024, nearly a year after Perry’s death Department of JusticePeople.com.
The Fatal Connection: How ketamine led to Perry’s Death
- In October 2023, Matthew Perry was found unresponsive in his hot tub. The medical examiner ruled acute effects of ketamine as the primary cause of death, with contributing factors such as drowning, coronary artery disease, and buprenorphine toxicity EW.com1Reuters.
- Sangha, alongside co-defendant Erik Fleming, sold Perry approximately 51 vials of ketamine via Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who injected Perry with multiple doses, including at least three on the day he died Department of Justice1www.ndtv.com.
- Following Perry’s death, Sangha instructed Fleming via Signal messages to “Delete all our messages,” illustrating an attempt to eliminate evidence Department of JusticeABC NewsGulf News.
A Broader Pattern: Other Fatal Overdoses and a Hidden Drug Network
- In addition to Perry’s case, Sangha admitted to selling four vials of ketamine to Cody McLaury in August 2019, who died hours later of an overdose Department of JusticeNew York PostLos Angeles Times.
- A raid on her North Hollywood residence in March 2023 uncovered a substantial underground drug operation: 79 vials of liquid ketamine, methamphetamine pills, MDMA tablets, counterfeit Xanax, cocaine, a money-counting machine, packaging materials, and over $5,700 in cash Department of Justicewww.ndtv.comPeople.com.
- Investigators portrayed her home as a “drug-selling emporium,” with Sangha operating the stash house since mid‑2019 Gulf NewsDepartment of Justice.
The Wider Conspiracy: Co-defendants and Their Role
Sangha is the fifth and final defendant to agree to a plea deal. Others involved include:
- Dr. Salvador Plasencia (“Dr. P”) – pleaded guilty in July to four counts of ketamine distribution; sentencing scheduled for December, up to 10 years each Department of Justice1.
- Dr. Mark Chavez – pleaded guilty in October 2024 to conspiracy to distribute ketamine; faces up to 10 years; sentencing in September Department of Justice1.
- Erik Fleming – initially supplied ketamine from Sangha to Perry; pleaded guilty in August 2024; faces up to 25 years; sentencing in November Department of Justice1.
- Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s assistant – pleaded guilty in August 2024 to conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death; faces up to 15 years; sentencing in November Department of Justice1.
Sangha’s Persona: From Glamour to Gravitas
- Sangha, a dual citizen, maintained a glamorous lifestyle—luxury travel, high-end aesthetics—on social media, projecting a “celebrity drug dealer” persona, as prosecutors painted Gulf Newswww.ndtv.com.
- Her background contrasts starkly: education includes graduation from Calabasas High (2001), a Bachelor’s from UC Irvine (2005), and an MBA from Hult International in London (2010). She once worked at Merrill Lynch before descending into felonious enterprise Gulf News.
What Comes Next?
- Sangha is expected to formally change her plea in federal court within the coming weeks. A sentencing hearing is anticipated in the months ahead Department of JusticePeople.com.
- Although the statutory maximum is up to 45 years in prison, prosecutors may seek a reduced sentence in light of her guilty plea and acceptance of responsibility Los Angeles TimesEW.com.
- With all five defendants now pleading guilty, the case is moving toward resolution, closing a dramatic chapter in Hollywood’s encounter with addiction and illegal drug networks.
Here’s a video highlight providing coverage of the Jasveen Sangha case:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/bJxsrcjuXMU
Final Word
jasveen sangha’s guilty plea aligns a sensational narrative with sobering accountability. The “Ketamine Queen” — once enveloped in celebrity allure — now stands at the center of a legal reckoning that underscores how addiction, privilege, and illicit enterprise can intertwine with catastrophic results. As sentencing looms, the legacy of this tragedy—and the structures that enabled it—remain under the harsh light of justice.
