‘Ketamine Queen’ Jasveen Sangha denies knowing Matthew Perry as trial date set in drug overdose case
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: The life of Jasveen Sangha reads like a script from a Hollywood thriller: a glamorous figure with dual US and British citizenship, who effortlessly moved between lavish vacations, high-end jewelry, and ritzy parties in North Hollywood.
Known as the 'Ketamine Queen,' Jasveen Sangha has now allegedly denied any connection to the tragic death of 'Friends' actor Matthew Perry, who died on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54 from a ketamine overdose.
Jasveen Sangha and Dr Salvador Plasencia set for trial in Matthew Perry's overdose case
On March 4, 2025, Jasveen Sangha, 41, will stand trial with Dr Salvador Plasencia, one of the five individuals arrested. Both have pleaded not guilty to charges related to Matthew Perry's death.
They are accused of illegally supplying the ketamine that led to Perry’s overdose on October 23, 2023, at the age of 54.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, Sangha’s attorney, Mark Geragos, strongly denies her involvement, asserting that she had "no connection at all" to Perry.
"People try to make her out to be something that she isn't but there's a whole different side here and story to be told and that will be told at her trial," Geragos asserted during an explosive chat on September 4 episode of 'Today Show,' as per Daily Mail.
The actor's body was found in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home, and an autopsy revealed high levels of ketamine, a powerful anesthetic, in his system, which led to accidental drowning.
Following his death, investigations revealed that Perry had been undergoing legitimate ketamine infusion therapy for depression but had sought additional supplies from illicit sources.
As a result, five individuals, including two doctors- Dr Mark Chavez and Dr Salvador Plasencia and Perry's personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa and a middleman who obtained ketamine from Sangha were charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine.
Jasveen Sangha faces 18 charges in high-profile drug case
Among the five individuals, Jasveen Sangha faces the most extensive charges. She faces an 18-count indictment, including charges of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, maintaining a drug-involved premise, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and ketamine, and multiple counts of ketamine distribution.
Allegedly, she was a well-known figure in North Hollywood, dealing exclusively with high-end clients and celebrities, which further cemented her 'Ketamine Queen' persona.
Sangha's public persona on social media stands in stark contrast to the accusations against her.
Her Instagram is a showcase of opulence, featuring her travels to Mexico and Japan, and displaying luxury items such as Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry, Louis Vuitton sneakers, and Chanel clothing.
Despite her legal troubles, her Instagram posts continued to offer a glimpse into her seemingly carefree lifestyle—such as the February 2024 selfies from Playa del Carmen, where she posed poolside with cocktails, just months after Perry’s death.
However, federal authorities allege that behind this curated image, Sangha's glamorous life was funded by narcotics dealing.
Her North Hollywood residence, ominously referred to in the indictment as the 'Sangha Stash House,' was described as a hub for storing, packaging, and distributing ketamine and methamphetamine.
The indictment also highlights a chilling pattern: in 2019, she allegedly sold ketamine to a customer named Cody McLaury, who later died of an overdose.
Despite a warning from McLaury's family member, Sangha's response was to search online to see if ketamine could be listed as a cause of death.
Text exchanges and raids uncover Jasveen Sangha’s alleged role in Matthew Perry’s death
The extent of Jasveen Sangha's alleged involvement in Matthew Perry's death was reportedly unveiled through text exchanges.
On October 11, 2023, she reportedly used Signal to message co-defendant Eric Fleming, boasting about the quality of her product and offering a sample to Perry: "It's unmarked but it's amazing – he take one and try it and I have more if he likes." [sic]
After Perry’s death on October 28, Sangha allegedly called a co-conspirator, urging them to delete any digital evidence.
When law enforcement raided her home in March 2024, the extent of her alleged drug empire was laid bare. According to an affidavit filed by freshman DEA agent Tyler Abrego, authorities seized nearly 2,000 grams of methamphetamine, 79 bottles of ketamine, and various other narcotics.
Text conversations found on Sangha's phone detailed transactions, including her request for payments via PayPal and a chilling nonchalance in her dealings: "I think you'll like these but remember they’re double strength." Videos allegedly showing Sangha "cooking ketamine" were also recovered.
The fallout from Perry’s death and the charges against Sangha and her co-defendants is reverberating through both the legal and medical communities.
Former federal narcotics prosecutor Neama Rahmani highlighted the severity of the case, stating, "Jasveen Sangha was the source of the ketamine that killed Perry, and she could face a potential life sentence for his death."
Rahmani added, "This is a very high-profile case and this is going to send a message to doctors as well as dealers who are profiting from distributing ketamine."
United States Attorney Martin Estrada echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the recklessness of profit-driven drug dealers, noting, "These defendants cared more about profiting from Mr Perry than about his well-being. Drug dealers who sell dangerous substances are gambling with other people's lives for the sake of greed."
