Ketamine Trafficker Agrees to Plead Guilty in Matthew Perry's Overdose Death

Strategic Insights -

Jasveen Sangha, a 42-year-old woman from North Hollywood, has agreed to plead guilty to five federal charges, including distributing the ketamine that killed actor Matthew Perry in October 2023. According to her plea agreement, Sangha worked with Erik Fleming to knowingly distribute ketamine to Perry, a successful actor and author who struggled with addiction. Sangha's business, which operated since at least June 2019, involved storing, packaging, and distributing narcotics, including ketamine and methamphetamine.

Key Takeaways:

  • Jasveen Sangha, a.k.a. "Ketamine Queen," has agreed to plead guilty to five federal charges related to distributing ketamine, including the overdose death of actor Matthew Perry.
  • Sangha worked with Erik Fleming to knowingly distribute ketamine to Perry, a successful actor and author who struggled with addiction.
  • Sangha's business, which operated since at least June 2019, involved storing, packaging, and distributing narcotics, including ketamine and methamphetamine.
  • In her plea agreement, Sangha admitted to selling four vials of ketamine to victim Cody McLaury in August 2019, resulting in McLaury's death from a drug overdose.
  • Sangha and Fleming sold Perry 51 vials of ketamine, which were provided to Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry's personal assistant.
  • Sangha will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison on the drug-involved premises count, up to 10 years in federal prison for each ketamine distribution count, and up to 15 years in federal prison for the count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury.
  • Other defendants charged in this matter include Mark Chavez, a physician, Erik Fleming, Kenneth Iwamasa, and Salvador Plasencia, a.k.a. "Dr. P."
  • The investigating agencies include the Los Angeles Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
  • Assistant United States Attorneys Ian V. Yanniello and Haoxiaohan H. Cai are prosecuting this case.

Statistics:

  • 51 vials of ketamine were sold to Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry's personal assistant.
  • 4 vials of ketamine were sold to victim Cody McLaury, who died from a drug overdose.
  • Up to 20 years in federal prison: the statutory maximum sentence Sangha may face for the drug-involved premises count.
  • Up to 10 years in federal prison per count: the maximum sentence Sangha may face for each ketamine distribution count.
  • Up to 15 years in federal prison: the maximum sentence Sangha may face for the count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury.

Sources:

  • "North Hollywood Woman Agrees to Plead Guilty to Federal Drug Charges, Including Selling Ketamine that Killed Actor Matthew Perry" (US Department of Justice, Office of the US Attorney for the Central District of California, Aug. 19)