‘Ketamine Queen’ Involved in Matthew Perry Case Agrees to Plea Deal
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Jasveen Sangha, known as the “Ketamine Queen” in relation to the tragic overdose death of actor Matthew Perry, has recently decided to plead guilty in connection with the case. Sangha is the final defendant out of five individuals who have either pleaded guilty or agreed to do so regarding Perry’s death in October 2023.
The U.S. Department of Justice revealed that Sangha has agreed to plead guilty to charges including one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distributing ketamine, and one count of distributing ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury. The 42-year-old, who holds citizenship in both the U.S. and the U.K., has been in federal custody since August 2024.
After operating a stash house in North Hollywood, Sangha is set to formally enter her guilty plea in the following weeks to avoid a scheduled trial. Prosecutors have highlighted that she could potentially face several decades in federal prison for her involvement in Perry’s tragic passing.
According to prosecutors, Sangha distributed drugs to Erik Fleming, who then passed them on to Perry’s live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa. Fleming played the role of an intermediary between Sangha and Iwamasa by obtaining vials from Sangha prior to distributing them to Perry’s assistant. The chain of events ultimately led to Perry receiving fatal injections.
Following the administration of ketamine by Iwamasa, resulting in Perry’s death, Sangha reportedly took steps to distance herself from the incident. The press release from the U.S. Department of Justice detailed how Sangha engaged in conversations with Fleming on Signal and instructed him to delete all messages between them upon learning of Perry’s passing.
An autopsy conducted on Perry revealed that his cause of death was attributed to the acute effects of ketamine, along with additional factors such as drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine. Sangha confessed not only to her involvement in Perry’s case but also to possessing and distributing various drugs from her North Hollywood residence dating back to at least June 2019.
In addition to her role in Perry’s death, Sangha admitted to selling ketamine to another individual, Cody McLaury, in 2019, resulting in McLaury’s fatal overdose. The plea deal with Sangha sheds light on a wider network of illicit drug distribution and its harrowing consequences.
The other implicated individuals in Perry’s case, including Iwamasa, Fleming, and doctors Mark Chavez and Salvador Plasencia, are also awaiting sentencing in the upcoming weeks. Sangha’s agreement to plead guilty marks a significant development in the pursuit of justice surrounding Perry’s untimely demise.
The plea deal with Sangha serves as a reminder of the devastating impacts of substance abuse and the critical need for accountability in cases involving illicit drug distribution. As legal proceedings continue for all parties involved, the repercussions of their actions on the lives of Perry and others affected by substance abuse remain at the forefront of the case.