A High-Profile Tragedy

Jasveen Sangha, a 42-year-old dual U.S.-U.K. citizen dubbed the “Ketamine Queen,” has agreed to plead guilty to five federal charges related to the October 2023 overdose death of beloved “Friends” star Matthew Perry. The announcement, made by the U.S. Department of Justice on August 18, 2025, marks the final plea deal in a case that has gripped Hollywood and beyond, highlighting the dangers of unregulated drug distribution and the devastating impact of addiction. Sangha, the last of five defendants charged in Perry’s death, admitted to supplying the ketamine that led to the actor’s fatal overdose, avoiding a trial scheduled for September 2025.

Perry, known for his iconic role as Chandler Bing on the 1990s sitcom “Friends,” was found unresponsive in a hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home on October 28, 2023, at the age of 54. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office determined his death was caused by the acute effects of ketamine, a powerful anesthetic increasingly used off-label for depression treatment but also abused recreationally. Drowning was listed as a contributing factor. Perry’s well-documented struggles with addiction, detailed in his 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, added a layer of tragedy to the case, as prosecutors allege that Sangha and others exploited his vulnerabilities for profit.

The Charges and Plea Agreement

Sangha, who has been in federal custody since August 2024, 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 plea agreement, signed on August 14, 2025, she faces a maximum sentence of 65 years in federal prison: up to 20 years for the drug-involved premises charge, 10 years for each ketamine distribution charge, and 15 years for the charge tied to Perry’s death. However, prosecutors noted they may seek a reduced sentence if Sangha fully accepts responsibility, a point emphasized by her attorney, Mark Geragos, who stated, “She’s taking responsibility for her actions.”

Sangha also admitted to selling four vials of ketamine to Cody McLaury in August 2019, who died hours later from a drug overdose, further underscoring her role in a pattern of dangerous drug distribution. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors will drop three additional ketamine distribution counts and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, which was unrelated to Perry’s case. Sangha is expected to formally enter her guilty plea in a Los Angeles federal court in the coming weeks, with a sentencing hearing to follow in the coming months.

The “Sangha Stash House” and Drug Network

Federal prosecutors described Sangha’s North Hollywood residence as a “drug-selling emporium,” referred to in court documents as the “Sangha Stash House.” Since at least June 2019, Sangha allegedly used the property to store, package, and distribute narcotics, including ketamine, methamphetamine, cocaine, and counterfeit Xanax. A March 2024 raid by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) uncovered 79 vials of liquid ketamine, 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine-laced orange pills, psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine, and drug trafficking paraphernalia, including a money-counting machine and $5,723 in cash. The indictment alleges Sangha catered to high-end clients and celebrities, a claim bolstered by her glamorous Instagram persona, which showcased a jet-setting lifestyle with appearances alongside figures like Charlie Sheen and DJ Khaled at events like the Golden Globes.

Court documents reveal that Sangha supplied 51 vials of ketamine to Perry in October 2023 through intermediaries, including Erik Fleming, a former producer, and Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s live-in assistant. On October 24, 2023, Fleming delivered 25 vials of ketamine to Iwamasa for $6,000 in cash, part of a deal that included the fatal doses. On the day of Perry’s death, Iwamasa injected Perry with at least three shots of Sangha’s ketamine, leading to the actor’s overdose. After learning of Perry’s death, Sangha instructed Fleming via the encrypted messaging app Signal to “delete all our messages,” an attempt to cover her tracks that prosecutors cited as evidence of her awareness of the consequences.

The Broader Conspiracy

Sangha was one of five defendants charged in a sweeping federal investigation led by the Los Angeles Police Department, DEA, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The other defendants—Dr. Salvador Plasencia, Dr. Mark Chavez, Kenneth Iwamasa, and Erik Fleming—all reached plea agreements in 2024 and early 2025, cooperating with prosecutors and implicating Sangha and Plasencia as the primary targets.

• Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a Santa Monica physician known as “Dr. P,” pleaded guilty on July 23, 2025, to four counts of ketamine distribution. He allegedly sold ketamine to Iwamasa and taught him how to inject Perry, despite knowing the actor’s addiction was “spiraling out of control.” Plasencia faces up to 10 years per count and is scheduled for sentencing on December 3, 2025.
• Dr. Mark Chavez, a San Diego-based physician, pleaded guilty in October 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine. Chavez admitted to diverting ketamine from his former clinic and obtaining additional supplies through fraudulent prescriptions, which he sold to Plasencia for Perry. His sentencing is set for September 17, 2025, with a maximum of 10 years.
• Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s assistant, pleaded guilty on August 7, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death. Iwamasa admitted to injecting Perry multiple times, including on the day of his death, without medical training. He faces up to 15 years and is scheduled for sentencing on November 19, 2025.
• Erik Fleming, an acquaintance of Perry, pleaded guilty on August 8, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution resulting in death. Fleming facilitated the transactions between Sangha and Iwamasa, delivering 50 vials of ketamine, including the fatal doses. He also faces sentencing on November 19, 2025.

Prosecutors allege that the defendants used coded language, referring to ketamine as “Dr. Pepper,” and exploited Perry’s addiction for financial gain. Perry had initially obtained ketamine legally through his doctor for depression treatment but began seeking larger, unsupervised doses. In September 2023, he turned to Plasencia, and by mid-October, he connected with Sangha through Fleming, who described her ketamine as “amazing” and marketed her as a dealer for “high-end and celebs.”

A Pattern of Recklessness

Sangha’s plea agreement also sheds light on her involvement in the 2019 death of Cody McLaury, who overdosed hours after purchasing four vials of ketamine from her. After receiving a text from McLaury’s sister blaming her for his death, Sangha searched online for “can ketamine be listed as a cause of death?” yet continued her operations for years, a fact prosecutors highlighted as evidence of her disregard for the dangers of her actions. The judge in her case noted her “unrelenting return to drug dealing” despite her involvement in two overdose deaths, rejecting arguments for leniency.

Public Reaction and Legacy

The case has sparked significant public attention, with posts on X reflecting a mix of outrage and sadness over Perry’s death and the role of those who enabled his addiction. Many fans expressed grief over the loss of Perry, whose candid discussions about his struggles with substance abuse resonated widely. Others criticized the defendants for exploiting a vulnerable individual, with some calling for stricter regulations on ketamine distribution. These sentiments, while reflective of public mood, remain inconclusive without broader evidence.

Perry’s death has also reignited discussions about the risks of ketamine, which has gained popularity as an off-label treatment for depression but carries significant risks when misused. The amount of ketamine in Perry’s system was equivalent to levels used in general anesthesia, far exceeding therapeutic doses. Prosecutors emphasized that Sangha and her co-conspirators knowingly supplied Perry with dangerous quantities, contributing to a preventable tragedy.

As part of her plea, Sangha will be required to pay full restitution to the victims, including Perry and McLaury. Her case, alongside those of her co-defendants, underscores the need for greater oversight in the growing at-home ketamine industry, as noted by Plasencia’s attorney, who called for stricter protocols to prevent future tragedies.