LOS ANGELES (AP) — A woman, Jasveen Sangha, who pleaded guilty to selling ketamine that led to the death of actor Matthew Perry is scheduled for sentencing on Wednesday. Sangha is one of five individuals who have admitted guilt in relation to the overdose of Perry, who was 54 at the time of his death. Known for his iconic role as Chandler Bing on NBC’s highly popular show “Friends,” Perry became a significant figure in television history during the late 1990s and 2000s.
Among those who have accepted plea deals, Sangha stands out as the only defendant to acknowledge her role in causing Perry's death, which is expected to influence her sentencing. Prosecutors recommend a prison term of 15 years for the 42-year-old Sangha, characterizing her in court documents as a “Ketamine Queen” who orchestrated a sophisticated drug operation aimed at a wealthy clientele to fund a luxurious lifestyle.
In her defense, Sangha’s attorneys argue that the time already served since her indictment in August 2024 should suffice as punishment. They contest the prosecution’s application of federal sentencing guidelines, asserting that their calculations are “factually wrong.” Additionally, they highlight her lack of a criminal history, good behavior while incarcerated, and diminished likelihood of returning to drug trafficking.
Family members of Perry are anticipated to address the court prior to the sentencing. Perry was discovered deceased in the hot tub of his residence in Los Angeles. The medical examiner determined that ketamine, a drug typically utilized as an anesthetic, was the primary cause of his death. Perry had a long history of addiction struggles and had been obtaining ketamine through a licensed doctor for depression treatment but sought more than his doctor was willing to prescribe.
This quest for additional ketamine led Perry to Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who illegally sold the substance to Perry and faced a sentence of 2.5 years in prison. Four days before his death, Perry purchased 25 vials of ketamine from Sangha for $6,000 in cash. The prosecution described this final transaction as the fatal dose. Another doctor linked to this case received eight months of home detention for supplying Plasencia with the ketamine. Perry's assistant and a friend involved in facilitating his drug procurement are still awaiting their sentencing.
U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett has expressed her intent to align the sentences of all five defendants systematically. In September, Sangha pleads guilty to multiple counts related to drug distribution, including one count connected to Perry’s death and another involving the overdose of Cody McLaury, a man unrelated to Perry, who died from a similar cause in 2019.
The prosecution maintains that despite her guilty plea, Sangha continued her illicit activities, reflecting a lack of remorse. Sangha, a dual U.S.-U.K. citizen, immigrated to the U.S. at the age of three and spent her childhood in Southern California. Given her family history, including the loss of her grandfather and stepfather, her defense team believes these events have significantly impacted her. They emphasize that her close relationships with her mother and grandmother could provide stability if she were released from incarceration.
Academically, Sangha holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Irvine, as well as a master’s degree from Hult International Business School in England. The defense portrayed her as an educated individual who made a grave error in judgment by entering the drug trade. Conversely, the prosecution argues that her actions were not borne out of desperation but were instead a conscious choice aimed at maintaining a wealthy lifestyle.
Sangha's legal team also noted her exemplary conduct while in prison, where she has maintained sobriety and engaged with other inmates by organizing and leading Narcotics Anonymous meetings.
