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'Ketamine Queen' pleads guilty in Matthew Perry death
A woman known as the "Ketamine Queen" pleaded guilty to illegally selling the drug that led to "Friends" star Matthew Perry's death.
LOS ANGELES - A woman known to her customers as the "ketamine queen" pleaded guilty in Los Angeles federal court to illegally selling the ketamine that killed actor Matthew Perry in October 2023.
What we know:
Jasveen Sangha, 42, pleaded guilty to 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.
In her agreement with prosecutors, Sangha admitted to possessing with intent to distribute various drugs at her apartment. In March 2023, seven months prior to Perry's death, law enforcement had searched Sangha's North Hollywood home and found 3.7 pounds of pressed pills containing methamphetamine, 79 vials of liquid ketamine, MDMA (Ecstasy) tablets, counterfeit Xanax pills, baggies containing powdered ketamine and cocaine, and other items such as a gold money counting machine, a scale, a wireless signal and hidden camera detector, drug packaging materials and $5,723 in cash.
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Sangha also admitted to selling four vials of ketamine to another man, 33-year-old Cody McLaury, in August 2019. McLaury, an aspiring personal trainer, died hours later from an overdose, prosecutors and other sources said.
She also admitted in her plea agreement to using her home to store, package and distribute narcotics, including ketamine and methamphetamine, since at least June 2019.
The backstory:
Perry, who struggled with addiction, died of a fatal ketamine overdose on October 28, 2023. He was 54.
Beginning in mid-October, the actor's live-in personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, began obtaining ketamine for Perry from the assistant's friend, Eric Fleming, who was getting it from Sangha, according to court papers.
After discussing prices with Iwamasa, Fleming coordinated the sales with Sangha, and brought cash from Iwamasa to Sangha's "stash house" to buy 50 vials of the drug, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
On Oct. 28, Iwamasa injected Perry with at least three shots of Sangha's ketamine, causing Perry's death, documents state.
Big picture view:
The five defendants in the case were charged in an 18-count indictment in August 2024. All have pleaded guilty.
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Iwamasa pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death.
Fleming pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death.
Two physicians, Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez, also pleaded guilty.
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Court documents state that Plasencia illegally distributed ketamine to Perry on at least seven occasions and taught Iwamasa how to inject the drug.
Chavez, in turn, is accused of writing a fraudulent prescription to obtain the ketamine he sold to Plasencia for distribution to Perry.
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What they're saying:
Sangha's attorney, Mark Geragos, provided a brief statement, saying his client was now "taking responsibility for her actions."
What's next:
The other four defendants are awaiting sentencing. Chavez is scheduled for sentencing on September 17, Fleming on November 12, Iwamasa on November 19, and Plasencia on December 3.
Upon entering her guilty plea, Sangha will face a maximum of 65 years in federal prison.
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She will be sentenced on Dec. 10.
The Source: This report is based on information from official court documents, including plea agreements and an 18-count federal indictment. Direct quotes and details about the case come from prosecutors, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and a statement from Sangha's attorney, Mark Geragos, providing a direct look into the legal proceedings.