Topline: A federal judge ordered a 15-year prison term for Jasveen Sangha, the final defendant convicted in the drug overdose death of the “Friends” star.
Published: April 11, 2026 6:00 am ET
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Left: Jasveen Sangha, Right: Matthew Perry (via Shutterstock/Getty)
LOS ANGELES, CA — A federal judge sentenced a British-American woman to 15 years in prison for selling actor Matthew Perry the lethal dose of ketamine that caused his 2023 overdose death.
U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett delivered the sentence to 42-year-old Jasveen Sangha. The judge noted that Sangha played a specific role in the death of the 54-year-old “Friends” star and operated a large drug-distribution business, according to AP.
Sangha pleaded guilty in September to five charges. These included one count of using her home for drug distribution, three counts of ketamine distribution, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death.
The sentence is longer than the combined prison time given to all four of Sangha’s co-defendants. Federal prosecutors requested the 15-year term, characterizing Sangha as the “Ketamine Queen” who funded a luxury lifestyle by selling to wealthy clients.
The hearing served as the conclusion of an investigation lasting more than two years. Perry was found dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home in October 2023, as reported by the BBC.
The medical examiner determined ketamine was the primary cause of death. Drowning was listed as a secondary cause.
Keith Morrison, Perry’s stepfather and a correspondent for NBC’s “Dateline,” spoke during the proceedings. He told the court that he and Perry’s mother, Suzanne, live with “daily, grinding sadness and sorrow”.
Morrison said Perry possessed a unique spark and should have lived to see more acts in his life. Perry’s stepmother, Debbie Perry, told Sangha her actions caused pain for thousands of people.
Sangha, who faced up to 65 years in prison, addressed the court before the sentence was issued. She said she felt shame and described her actions as horrible decisions that ruined lives.
“These were not mistakes. They were horrible decisions,” Sangha stated, acknowledging that they “shattered people’s lives and the lives of their family and friends”.
Defense attorney Mark Geragos argued that Perry’s addiction was the cause of death. He told the judge that no one could have stopped the actor from his course of action.
Geragos also criticized the “Ketamine Queen” nickname. He attributed the moniker to federal prosecutors seeking media attention for the case.
The defense requested a shorter sentence by highlighting Sangha’s good behavior while in custody. She has been in jail since her indictment in August 2024.
Garnett said the 15-year term was necessary because of the size of Sangha’s operation. The judge noted Sangha had spent years dealing drugs to many clients.
The judge also pointed to evidence that Sangha continued to sell drugs after a previous customer died. Kimberly McLaury testified that her 33-year-old brother, Cody, died in 2019 after buying from Sangha.
McLaury told Sangha that if she had stopped selling after receiving a text about her brother’s death, the current case would not have happened. Sangha had no prior criminal arrests before this federal case.
Perry originally used ketamine legally through a doctor to treat depression. According to court records, he eventually sought more of the drug than his physician would provide.
This led him to Dr. Salvador Plasencia. Plasencia admitted to illegal sales and received a sentence of 2 1/2 years in prison.
Another doctor received eight months of home detention for providing the drugs to Plasencia. Perry’s assistant and a friend also admitted to acting as middlemen and are waiting for their sentences.
The lethal dose was part of a $6,000 cash purchase Perry made from Sangha days before he died. Evidence showed Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, injected the drug at the actor’s request.
Garnett said she attempted to balance the sentences among the five people charged. She concluded Sangha was more culpable than the others because of her history as a professional dealer.
The judge told the families present that while the process brought no joy, she hoped they felt a sense of justice. She told Sangha she would need to show resilience after her release from prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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‘Ketamine Queen’ Gets 15-Year Sentence in Matthew Perry’s Death
A federal judge ordered a 15-year prison term for Jasveen Sangha, the final defendant convicted in the drug overdose death of the “Friends” star.
By Kate Byrd
Published: April 11, 2026 6:00 am ET
Left: Jasveen Sangha, Right: Matthew Perry (via Shutterstock/Getty)
LOS ANGELES, CA — A federal judge sentenced a British-American woman to 15 years in prison for selling actor Matthew Perry the lethal dose of ketamine that caused his 2023 overdose death.
U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett delivered the sentence to 42-year-old Jasveen Sangha. The judge noted that Sangha played a specific role in the death of the 54-year-old “Friends” star and operated a large drug-distribution business, according to AP.
Sangha pleaded guilty in September to five charges. These included one count of using her home for drug distribution, three counts of ketamine distribution, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death.
The sentence is longer than the combined prison time given to all four of Sangha’s co-defendants. Federal prosecutors requested the 15-year term, characterizing Sangha as the “Ketamine Queen” who funded a luxury lifestyle by selling to wealthy clients.
The hearing served as the conclusion of an investigation lasting more than two years. Perry was found dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home in October 2023, as reported by the BBC.
The medical examiner determined ketamine was the primary cause of death. Drowning was listed as a secondary cause.
Keith Morrison, Perry’s stepfather and a correspondent for NBC’s “Dateline,” spoke during the proceedings. He told the court that he and Perry’s mother, Suzanne, live with “daily, grinding sadness and sorrow”.
Morrison said Perry possessed a unique spark and should have lived to see more acts in his life. Perry’s stepmother, Debbie Perry, told Sangha her actions caused pain for thousands of people.
Sangha, who faced up to 65 years in prison, addressed the court before the sentence was issued. She said she felt shame and described her actions as horrible decisions that ruined lives.
“These were not mistakes. They were horrible decisions,” Sangha stated, acknowledging that they “shattered people’s lives and the lives of their family and friends”.
Defense attorney Mark Geragos argued that Perry’s addiction was the cause of death. He told the judge that no one could have stopped the actor from his course of action.
Geragos also criticized the “Ketamine Queen” nickname. He attributed the moniker to federal prosecutors seeking media attention for the case.
The defense requested a shorter sentence by highlighting Sangha’s good behavior while in custody. She has been in jail since her indictment in August 2024.
Garnett said the 15-year term was necessary because of the size of Sangha’s operation. The judge noted Sangha had spent years dealing drugs to many clients.
The judge also pointed to evidence that Sangha continued to sell drugs after a previous customer died. Kimberly McLaury testified that her 33-year-old brother, Cody, died in 2019 after buying from Sangha.
McLaury told Sangha that if she had stopped selling after receiving a text about her brother’s death, the current case would not have happened. Sangha had no prior criminal arrests before this federal case.
Perry originally used ketamine legally through a doctor to treat depression. According to court records, he eventually sought more of the drug than his physician would provide.
This led him to Dr. Salvador Plasencia. Plasencia admitted to illegal sales and received a sentence of 2 1/2 years in prison.
Another doctor received eight months of home detention for providing the drugs to Plasencia. Perry’s assistant and a friend also admitted to acting as middlemen and are waiting for their sentences.
The lethal dose was part of a $6,000 cash purchase Perry made from Sangha days before he died. Evidence showed Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, injected the drug at the actor’s request.
Garnett said she attempted to balance the sentences among the five people charged. She concluded Sangha was more culpable than the others because of her history as a professional dealer.
The judge told the families present that while the process brought no joy, she hoped they felt a sense of justice. She told Sangha she would need to show resilience after her release from prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
‘Ketamine Queen’ Gets 15-Year Sentence in Matthew Perry’s Death
A federal judge ordered a 15-year prison term for Jasveen Sangha, the final defendant convicted in the drug overdose death of the “Friends” star.
By Kate Byrd
Published: April 11, 2026 6:00 am ET
Left: Jasveen Sangha, Right: Matthew Perry (via Shutterstock/Getty)
LOS ANGELES, CA — A federal judge sentenced a British-American woman to 15 years in prison for selling actor Matthew Perry the lethal dose of ketamine that caused his 2023 overdose death.
U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett delivered the sentence to 42-year-old Jasveen Sangha. The judge noted that Sangha played a specific role in the death of the 54-year-old “Friends” star and operated a large drug-distribution business, according to AP.
Sangha pleaded guilty in September to five charges. These included one count of using her home for drug distribution, three counts of ketamine distribution, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death.
The sentence is longer than the combined prison time given to all four of Sangha’s co-defendants. Federal prosecutors requested the 15-year term, characterizing Sangha as the “Ketamine Queen” who funded a luxury lifestyle by selling to wealthy clients.
The hearing served as the conclusion of an investigation lasting more than two years. Perry was found dead in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home in October 2023, as reported by the BBC.
The medical examiner determined ketamine was the primary cause of death. Drowning was listed as a secondary cause.
Keith Morrison, Perry’s stepfather and a correspondent for NBC’s “Dateline,” spoke during the proceedings. He told the court that he and Perry’s mother, Suzanne, live with “daily, grinding sadness and sorrow”.
Morrison said Perry possessed a unique spark and should have lived to see more acts in his life. Perry’s stepmother, Debbie Perry, told Sangha her actions caused pain for thousands of people.
Sangha, who faced up to 65 years in prison, addressed the court before the sentence was issued. She said she felt shame and described her actions as horrible decisions that ruined lives.
“These were not mistakes. They were horrible decisions,” Sangha stated, acknowledging that they “shattered people’s lives and the lives of their family and friends”.
Defense attorney Mark Geragos argued that Perry’s addiction was the cause of death. He told the judge that no one could have stopped the actor from his course of action.
Geragos also criticized the “Ketamine Queen” nickname. He attributed the moniker to federal prosecutors seeking media attention for the case.
The defense requested a shorter sentence by highlighting Sangha’s good behavior while in custody. She has been in jail since her indictment in August 2024.
Garnett said the 15-year term was necessary because of the size of Sangha’s operation. The judge noted Sangha had spent years dealing drugs to many clients.
The judge also pointed to evidence that Sangha continued to sell drugs after a previous customer died. Kimberly McLaury testified that her 33-year-old brother, Cody, died in 2019 after buying from Sangha.
McLaury told Sangha that if she had stopped selling after receiving a text about her brother’s death, the current case would not have happened. Sangha had no prior criminal arrests before this federal case.
Perry originally used ketamine legally through a doctor to treat depression. According to court records, he eventually sought more of the drug than his physician would provide.
This led him to Dr. Salvador Plasencia. Plasencia admitted to illegal sales and received a sentence of 2 1/2 years in prison.
Another doctor received eight months of home detention for providing the drugs to Plasencia. Perry’s assistant and a friend also admitted to acting as middlemen and are waiting for their sentences.
The lethal dose was part of a $6,000 cash purchase Perry made from Sangha days before he died. Evidence showed Perry’s assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, injected the drug at the actor’s request.
Garnett said she attempted to balance the sentences among the five people charged. She concluded Sangha was more culpable than the others because of her history as a professional dealer.
The judge told the families present that while the process brought no joy, she hoped they felt a sense of justice. She told Sangha she would need to show resilience after her release from prison.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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