Ketamine Queen pleads guilty

California woman known as the Ketamine Queen will plead guilty to federal drug charges linked to Matthew Perry's overdose.

Ketamine Queen pleads guilty in Perry death case

Jasveen Sangha, 42, known as the Ketamine Queen, has agreed to plead guilty to one count of maintaining a drug involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. The plea carries a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison, with sentencing set to occur in the coming weeks, the office said. The development follows guilty pleas from other defendants, including Perry's live-in personal assistant and two doctors, who admitted to ketamine distribution in connection with the actor's death. Perry, 54, was found dead in his Pacific Palisades home in October 2023, with the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruling the death an accidental ketamine overdose. Prosecutors say Sangha worked with an associate to supply the drug and that 51 vials were sold in the weeks before the death. The plea release notes that Sangha admitted selling four vials to Cory McLaury in 2019, and that the assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, injected Perry on three occasions. A text message cited in the release shows a co-defendant saying, I’m 90% sure everyone is protected, while describing the assistant as the enabler.

The case underscores how illegal drug networks can weave through private circles even when a high profile figure is involved. It raises questions about the line between legitimate medical use of ketamine for depression and unsupervised, distribution-driven doses that can fuel addiction and tragedy. As prosecutors pursue multiple defendants, the story highlights broader concerns about oversight, patient safety, and the extent to which accountability reaches beyond the immediate suppliers. The Perry case may prompt renewed scrutiny of ketamine access, monitoring, and the social dynamics that enable private sale networks tied to celebrity cases.

Highlights

Observers will watch how the plea shapes accountability and policy changes.