Plea reached in Perry ketamine case

Final defendant Jasveen Sangha pleads guilty in a federal case linked to Matthew Perry's death, closing part of a high‑profile investigation.

Ketamine case ends with plea in Perry death

Jasveen Sangha, long called the ketamine queen, has agreed to plead guilty to several charges in a federal case tied to the death of actor Matthew Perry. The move, announced on Monday, concludes her participation in the prosecution as the fifth and final defendant to strike a plea deal. Prosecutors say the deal could keep her out of trial, which had been scheduled for August, and she faces a potential sentence of up to 45 years in prison.

The charges include conspiracy to distribute ketamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and ketamine, and maintaining a drug involved premises. Earlier, three co‑defendants pleaded guilty in exchange for cooperation, and another defendant, Dr Salvador Plasencia, signed a separate plea deal. Perry’s death was ruled a ketamine overdose, with prosecutors detailing how the drug was obtained and used in the weeks leading to his death.

The case underscores how high‑profile deaths can unfold into complex drug networks that reach beyond the initial tragedy. Plea agreements can shift the focus from sensational details to accountability and process, but they also raise questions about deterrence when individuals in celebrity circles are involved. The Perry case highlights the tension between medical use of ketamine for depression and illegal distribution that fuels risky behavior. As prosecutions move forward, public attention will collide with policy debates on access to treatment, regulation of controlled substances, and the way the justice system handles celebrity‑linked crimes.

Highlights

Accountability arrives in a case that forced a public reckoning with a difficult drug problem.