Matthew Perry drug supplier 'Ketamine Queen' jailed for 15 years over Friends star's death

Olivia Gantzer
Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:49:05 +0000

A Los Angeles woman dubbed the "Ketamine Queen" has received a 15-year federal prison sentence for supplying the drugs that caused the death of Friends star Matthew Perry.

Jasveen Sangha, 42, an American-British dual national, was sentenced on Wednesday after pleading guilty in September to five charges, including distributing ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury.

The court also imposed three years of supervised release following her prison term.

Prosecutors alleged that Sangha ran a substantial drug trafficking operation from her North Hollywood residence, which they characterised as a "drug-selling emporium" funding an extravagant lifestyle.

Mr Perry, beloved for his portrayal of Chandler Bing in the iconic 1990s sitcom, died aged 54 in October 2023 after being discovered unresponsive in his hot tub. His death was attributed to the acute effects of ketamine.

Ahead of the sentencing, Mr Perry's stepmother Debbie Perry submitted a victim impact statement to the California court urging the judge to impose the harshest possible punishment.

"The pain you've caused to hundreds maybe thousands is irreversible," she wrote. "There is no joy… No light in the window. They won't be back."

Debbie Perry, who is married to the actor's father John Bennett Perry, directed her words squarely at Sangha.

"You caused this… You who has talent for business enough to make money chose the one way that hurts people," she stated.

In her closing remarks, she implored the court to protect other families from similar tragedy.

"Please give this heartless woman the maximum prison sentence so she won't be able to hurt other families like ours," she wrote.

Prosecutors painted a damning picture of Sangha in their sentencing memorandum, describing her as a "privileged individual" who chose drug dealing not out of necessity but for "greed, glamor, and access."

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Taylor Swift sued by real-life Las Vegas showgirl over latest chart-topping album

ITV I'm A Celebrity fans call for new series to be 'AXED' after South Africa debut

BBC Strictly star arrested on suspicion of rape won't face charges, police confirm

They accused her of attempting to "rewrite history" by portraying herself as a victim and argued she had shown no genuine remorse for her actions.

"She repeatedly sold dangerous drugs in high volume; she ran a stash house and directed others to help sell her drugs; she obstructed justice to conceal her actions; and she was fully aware that her drug dealing contributed to at least two deaths yet kept selling the drugs to others," prosecutors wrote.

They also cited a recorded jail telephone conversation in which Sangha allegedly discussed obtaining trademarks and book rights related to the case, suggesting she viewed her crimes as a potential future revenue stream.

Sangha was among five individuals charged in connection with Perry's death, all of whom entered guilty pleas.

Authorities alleged she sold approximately 50 vials of ketamine to the actor for $11,000, including the batch that proved fatal. She also admitted to a 2019 ketamine sale to Cody McLaury, 33, who died from an overdose hours after the purchase.

Dr Salvador Plasencia, who supplied Perry with ketamine in the weeks preceding his death, received a 30-month prison sentence in December. Dr Mark Chavez, who fraudulently obtained ketamine and sold it to Plasencia, was given eight months of home detention.

Perry's live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, who administered the fatal injections, awaits sentencing later this month. Film producer Eric Fleming is scheduled to be sentenced in June.