Jasveen Sangha, known as the “ketamine queen”, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, believed to have supplied the lethal dose of the drug that caused the death of “Friends” actor Matthew Perry, who died in October 2023 at the age of 54.
The plea agreement and the charges
The woman, as reported by ABC News, admitted as part of a plea agreement that she collaborated with another drug dealer to supply the actor with dozens of vials of ketamine, including the one that proved fatal.
Sangha had already pleaded guilty last year to several charges: running a drug dealing premises, three incidents of distribution of ketamine and a more serious charge linked to drug distribution resulting in death or serious injury. He faced a sentence of up to 65 years in prison.
«Cold insensitivity»
In documents filed before the sentence, prosecutors underlined the defendant’s “cold insensitivity and contempt for life”, also highlighting a “little remorse”. Among the elements cited, some communications from prison in which the woman allegedly discussed the possibility of obtaining rights related to the case.
Large-scale traffic
According to the indictment, Sangha operated a large-scale drug trafficking operation from his home in North Hollywood for years, where he stored and distributed substances such as ketamine and methamphetamine since at least 2019.
The activity would have continued despite the overdose deaths of other people, including Cody McLaury, who died a few hours after purchasing drugs from the woman in 2019. “He had the opportunity to stop, but he chose not to,” the prosecutors argued, thus justifying the request for a significant sentence.
The pain of the family
In a statement filed before the sentencing, the actor’s stepmother, Debbie Perry, spoke of “irreversible” pain caused by the loss of Matthew Perry.