Jasveen Sangha, a Los Angeles-based drug dealer known in underground circles as the "Ketamine Queen," has agreed to plead guilty to five federal charges related to the October 2023 overdose death of beloved actor Matthew Perry, according to a series of announcements from federal prosecutors this week. The plea deal, coming after months of legal wrangling and a highly publicized investigation, marks the final chapter in a case that has gripped Hollywood and reignited national debate over the dangers of at-home ketamine use and the shadowy networks that supply it.
Sangha, 42, is the fifth and final defendant to strike a plea agreement in the high-profile case, which centers on Perry's tragic death at age 54. The actor, famed for his role as Chandler Bing on the iconic sitcom Friends, was found dead in his Pacific Palisades hot tub on October 28, 2023. The Los Angeles County medical examiner determined that Perry died from an accidental ketamine overdose, with drowning listed as a contributing factor.
According to TheWrap and Fox News Digital, Sangha pleaded guilty to 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 most serious charge—distribution resulting in death—carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years, while the other counts could add decades more. In total, Sangha faces up to 65 years in federal prison, though prosecutors have signaled they may seek a lesser sentence if she fully accepts responsibility for her actions.
In exchange for Sangha's guilty plea, federal prosecutors agreed to drop three other counts of ketamine distribution and one count of distributing methamphetamine unrelated to Perry. The plea deal also includes Sangha's admission to selling four vials of ketamine to Cody McLaury in August 2019, who died hours later from a drug overdose that included ketamine. According to Los Angeles Times reporting, after learning of McLaury's death, Sangha searched online, "Can ketamine be listed as a cause of death?"—a chilling detail that prosecutors say illustrates her awareness of the drug's dangers.
Sangha's North Hollywood apartment, described as the "Sangha stash house" in federal indictments, served as the base for her drug operations for years. Court documents allege that she used encrypted messaging apps and coded language for transactions, referring to her supplier as the "master chef" or "scientist." Investigators found handwritten notes detailing thousands of dollars in drug deals and even videos of Sangha "cooking" liquid ketamine into powder on her stovetop.
Matthew Perry's struggle with addiction was no secret; he spoke openly about his battles in interviews and his memoir. In the months leading up to his death, Perry had been receiving legal, off-label ketamine infusions as a treatment for depression—a practice that has grown in popularity but remains controversial due to its risks. However, as court filings reveal, Perry began seeking more ketamine than his doctor would prescribe. About a month before his death, he started obtaining the drug from Dr. Salvador Plasencia, one of the other defendants in the case, and then turned to Sangha roughly two weeks before his fatal overdose.
The network that supplied Perry was intricate. According to The Independent and Fox News Digital, Perry's personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, played a key role. After Perry experienced an adverse reaction to a large dose of ketamine administered by Dr. Plasencia on October 12, 2023—which left him unable to speak or move—Iwamasa began searching for additional sources. He contacted Erik Fleming, a former producer and drug counseling worker, who served as a middleman between Perry's camp and Sangha. Fleming described Sangha's product in texts as "unmarked but it's amazing" and noted that she only worked "with high end and celebs."
In October 2023, Sangha and Fleming sold Perry a total of 51 vials of ketamine, with 25 vials purchased for $6,000 in cash just four days before Perry's death. These vials, prosecutors say, included the doses that ultimately killed the actor. Between October 24 and 27, Perry's assistant injected him with ketamine six to eight times daily, according to authorities. On the day of Perry's death, Iwamasa administered at least three shots of Sangha's ketamine.
The aftermath was a flurry of panic and attempted cover-up. On the day Perry died, Sangha instructed Fleming via encrypted messaging to "delete all our messages," and updated her app settings to automatically erase their conversations. In a voicemail and text exchange with Fleming two days later, Fleming speculated about the ongoing investigation and how they might avoid detection, according to court documents cited by the Los Angeles Times.
Law enforcement's pursuit of Sangha culminated in a March 2024 raid of her North Hollywood residence by DEA agents, who seized large quantities of methamphetamine and ketamine. She was indicted in June 2024, arrested that August, and has remained in custody ever since. None of the defendants in the case have been sentenced yet, but the plea agreements have set the stage for potentially lengthy prison terms.
The other four defendants—Dr. Plasencia, Dr. Mark Chavez, Iwamasa, and Fleming—have all pleaded guilty to federal charges for their roles in Perry's death. Dr. Plasencia, who administered the initial large dose to Perry, expressed "profound remorse" after his plea in July 2025, with his attorney telling the Los Angeles Times that he hopes the case "serves as a warning to other medical professionals and leads to stricter oversight and clear protocols for the rapidly growing at-home ketamine industry." Dr. Chavez and Fleming each face up to 10 and 25 years in federal prison, respectively, at their upcoming sentencing hearings. Iwamasa faces up to 15 years.
The case has shone a harsh spotlight on the dual nature of ketamine: a powerful anesthetic and promising therapy for mental health, but also a drug with significant potential for abuse and deadly consequences when misused. Perry's death—and the elaborate web of suppliers and enablers behind it—has prompted calls for tighter regulation and oversight of ketamine clinics, home infusions, and the online black market.
As the legal process nears its end, with Sangha and her co-defendants awaiting sentencing, the story of Matthew Perry's final months stands as both a cautionary tale and a sobering reminder of the ongoing opioid and synthetic drug crises facing the United States. The outcome of these cases may well influence future policy and enforcement efforts, but for Perry's family, friends, and millions of fans, the loss remains deeply personal and painfully raw.
