A federal judge has sentenced Jasveen Sangha to 15 years in prison for her role in the 2023 death of Friends star Matthew Perry. The 42-year-old, characterized by prosecutors as a “Ketamine Queen,” pleaded guilty to distributing the lethal dose of the anesthetic that led to the actor’s overdose in his Los Angeles home.
The sentencing, handed down Thursday by Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, marks a pivotal moment in the wider investigation into the network of suppliers who fueled Perry’s struggle with addiction. Sangha is the third of five defendants to be sentenced in a case that has peeled back the curtain on a high-complete drug operation catering to wealthy clients to fund a “jet-setting lifestyle.”
Unlike her co-defendants, Sangha’s plea deal included a specific acknowledgment of causing Perry’s death. This admission, combined with the scale of her operation, resulted in a prison term that will significantly exceed the combined sentences of the other individuals involved in the case.
Standing before the court, Sangha expressed profound remorse, stating that she wears her shame “like a jacket.” She admitted that her actions “were not mistakes” but “horrible decisions” that “shattered people’s lives and the lives of their family and friends.”
The Legal Reckoning for the ‘Ketamine Queen’
The sentence follows a September plea where Sangha admitted to one count of using her home for drug distribution, three counts of ketamine distribution, and one count of distribution resulting in death. In determining the term, Judge Garnett referenced a probation services report that suggested a range between 14 and 17.5 years, based on the quantity of ketamine, methamphetamine, and other narcotics found at Sangha’s residence.
Sangha’s defense team, led by Mark Geragos, argued that the 15-year sentence was disproportionate. Geragos contended that “pernicious” addiction was the true cause of death, suggesting that Perry’s struggle made the outcome inevitable regardless of the supplier. In a pointed exchange, Geragos questioned the court’s logic, asking if the person supplying “ammunition” was more culpable than the person who “pulls the trigger.”
However, Judge Garnett rejected this framing, citing the sheer scale of Sangha’s business and her history of dealing. The judge specifically noted that Sangha continued her operations even after being warned via text message that another customer, 33-year-old Cody McLaury, had died in 2019. Kimberly McLaury, the sister of the deceased, addressed the court, stating, “Had you stopped selling ketamine when I texted you, we wouldn’t be here today.”
A Web of Suppliers and the Fatal Dose
The investigation into Perry’s death revealed a complex chain of illicit drug procurement. While Perry had been using ketamine legally through a physician as an off-label treatment for depression, his desire for higher quantities led him to a series of illegal sources. This path first led him to Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for illegally selling the drug to the actor.
Days before his death, Perry engaged in a $6,000 cash transaction with Sangha, which included the lethal dose. The medical examiner determined that ketamine was the primary cause of death, with drowning cited as a secondary cause. Other contributing factors included coronary artery disease and the presence of buprenorphine.
| Defendant | Role | Sentence/Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jasveen Sangha | Primary Supplier | 15 Years Prison |
| Dr. Salvador Plasencia | Illegal Distributor | 2.5 Years Prison |
| Unnamed Doctor | Supplier to Plasencia | 8 Months Home Detention |
| Kenneth Iwamasa | Assistant/Middleman | Awaiting Sentencing |
| Unnamed Friend | Middleman | Awaiting Sentencing |
The Human Cost of Addiction
The courtroom proceedings were marked by the raw grief of Perry’s family. Keith Morrison, Perry’s stepfather and a veteran NBC Dateline correspondent, described a “daily, grinding sadness and sorrow” shared by himself and Perry’s mother, Suzanne. In a poignant tribute, Morrison spoke of the “spark” Perry possessed, lamenting that the actor “should have had another act. Two more acts.”
Debbie Perry, the actor’s stepmother, told Sangha that her decisions had caused pain for “hundreds, maybe thousands” of people. The contrast in the room was stark: on one side, the grieving family of a global icon; on the other, Sangha’s friends and family, who provided “countless” letters of support testifying to her “loving decency.”
Closing the hearing, Judge Garnett acknowledged the difficulty of the process, stating, “There’s no joy in this process,” but expressed hope that the family might finally “feel a sense of justice.”
Disclaimer: This article discusses substance abuse and addiction. If you or a loved one are struggling, please contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
The legal proceedings continue as the court prepares for the final stages of the case. The next confirmed checkpoints involve the sentencing of Perry’s former assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, and a close friend who both admitted to acting as middlemen in the drug distribution network.
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