The woman known as the “Ketamine Queen” of North Hollywood is appearing in a Los Angeles federal court Wednesday to be sentenced for her role in the overdose death of Friends star Matthew Perry.
Jasveen Sangha, 42, faces significant prison time after pleading guilty to multiple felony counts, including distribution of ketamine resulting in death.
Prosecutors have requested a 15-year sentence for Sangha, characterizing her as a major drug supplier who used her home as a distribution point to cater to high-end clientele. Sangha was the last of five defendants to reach a plea deal in a federal investigation that authorities said exposed a “broad underground criminal network” responsible for supplying the actor with the powerful anesthetic.
Members of Perry’s family are expected to deliver victim impact statements in court Wednesday. The hearing follows more than two years of investigation after the 54-year-old actor was found dead in his hot tub in October 2023. While Sangha’s defense has requested leniency based on her conduct in custody, prosecutors argue she demonstrated a lack of remorse by continuing to sell drugs even after learning of previous customer deaths.
Today’s sentencing concludes the case against Sangha, who admitted to selling the 25 vials of ketamine that included the fatal dose. Unlike her co-defendants, Sangha acknowledged in her plea that her actions caused Perry’s death, making her eligible for the harshest penalty of the group. As Sangha's sentencing gets underway, The Independent looks back at the Perry investigations.
How Matthew Perry died
The beloved actor was found unresponsive in the pool of his Pacific Palisades home on October 28, 2023. While the actor had been open about his lifelong struggle with addiction, he was reportedly clean from traditional narcotics at the time of his death. However, he had been undergoing legal ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled his death an accident caused by the “acute effects of ketamine,” with contributing factors including drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine.
Investigators found the amount of ketamine in Perry’s system was equivalent to levels used for general anesthesia, far exceeding what is typical for outpatient therapy.
The ‘Ketamine Queen’
Jasveen Sangha, a dual U.S. and British citizen, was described by federal prosecutors as a high-society supplier who funded a “jet-setting” lifestyle through her drug trade. From her North Hollywood apartment, Sangha allegedly sold a variety of narcotics for years.
In the Perry case, prosecutors say she provided the specific batch of ketamine that killed the actor, selling 50 vials to his associates over two weeks.
Her past also became a focal point for the government. Investigators linked her to the 2019 overdose death of another customer, Los Angeles resident Cody McLaury, arguing she was well aware of the drug’s lethal potential long before Perry’s death.
The Doctors: Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez
Dr. Salvador Plasencia, known as “Dr. P,” was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for illegally selling ketamine to Perry. Prosecutors highlighted text messages in which Plasencia mocked the actor’s addiction, writing: “I wonder how much this moron will pay.”
He was supplied by Dr. Mark Chavez, who admitted to obtaining the drug through fraudulent prescriptions and false statements to wholesale distributors. Chavez was sentenced to eight months of home detention for his role in the scheme.
The Assistant: Kenneth Iwamasa
Perry’s long-time live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, was the one who administered the fatal injections. Despite having no medical training, Iwamasa admitted to injecting Perry multiple times on the day he died, including the final dose.
He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death and is scheduled for sentencing later this month.
The middleman: Erik Fleming
Erik Fleming, an acquaintance of Perry, acted as the primary link between the actor’s assistant and Sangha. Fleming admitted to coordinating the sales and transporting the cash and drugs between North Hollywood and Perry’s home.
He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Like Iwamasa, his final sentence is pending.
