Ketamine Queen pleads guilty in Perry case

A woman known as the Ketamine Queen agrees to plead guilty to multiple drug charges linked to Matthew Perry's death, avoiding a planned trial.

Ketamine Queen pleads guilty in Perry case

Jasveen Sangha, the fifth and final defendant in the Matthew Perry overdose case, has agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine, maintaining a drug involved premises, and related drug distribution charges. Prosecutors say she supplied ketamine to Perry through middlemen and could face up to 45 years in prison. The other four defendants have already pleaded guilty or agreed to cooperate in exchange for sentences or leniency, shaping the track of the case. A plea hearing will schedule sentencing.

Perry, the star of Friends, died on Oct 28, 2023 in Los Angeles from ketamine intoxication. Investigators said the drug was obtained through Dr. Salvador Plasencia and Sangha, with Perry buying large amounts in the weeks before his death. Messages describe Sangha’s ketamine as high quality and meant for celebrities, and investigators say the group deleted messages on the day of Perry’s death. Sangha’s North Hollywood home was raided in March 2024, leading to charges that included large quantities of methamphetamine and ketamine.

The case illustrates how celebrity status can intersect with illegal drug networks and how prosecutors pursue dealers even as medical professionals are scrutinized for off label use. It also highlights how plea deals shift the legal focus from a trial to accountability and deterrence. As the legal process unfolds, the debate over off label ketamine use in depression remains unresolved and the line between care and crime stays murky.

Highlights

The legal process will continue to test how care, crime and accountability intersect in crowded courtroom and public discussion.