LOS ANGELES (Azat TV) – A federal judge sentenced Jasveen Sangha, the individual widely known as the “Ketamine Queen,” to 15 years in prison on April 8, 2026, for her role in the 2023 death of actor Matthew Perry. The sentencing serves as a definitive legal milestone in a complex investigation that exposed a web of illicit drug distribution involving physicians, an assistant, and street-level suppliers.
Accountability for the Illicit Ketamine Trade
Sangha, 42, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to five felony charges, including distribution of ketamine resulting in death and maintaining a drug-involved premises. During the sentencing hearing in Los Angeles federal court, Sangha addressed the bench, stating, “These were not mistakes. They were horrible decisions that ultimately shattered people’s lives.” Prosecutors had argued for the 15-year term, citing evidence that Sangha continued to distribute controlled substances even after learning that her products had been linked to prior overdose fatalities, including that of Cody McLaury in 2019.
Impact of Victim Statements
The court proceedings were marked by emotional testimony from the late actor’s family. Matthew Perry’s stepmother, Debbie Perry, delivered a searing statement, telling the defendant that the pain caused was “irreversible” and urging the court to impose a significant penalty. Keith Morrison, Perry’s stepfather, reflected on the actor’s life, noting the “daily, grinding sadness and sorrow” felt by the family while acknowledging the judge’s reasoned approach to the sentencing. Following the hearing, Morrison described the outcome as a fair resolution to a tragic case.
The Broader Legal Fallout
The sentencing of Sangha follows a series of plea agreements involving other key figures in the investigation. Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s personal assistant who admitted to repeatedly injecting the actor with ketamine, and Erik Fleming, an intermediary who facilitated the transfer of the drugs, have also faced federal charges. Furthermore, two physicians, Mark Chavez and Salvador Plasencia, were drawn into the case for their roles in supplying the substance. Plasencia, who was sentenced in December 2025 to 30 months in prison, had faced up to 40 years for his actions, which included falsifying records to cover his involvement. The case has drawn national attention to the risks inherent in the unregulated or illicit distribution of ketamine, a substance increasingly used in clinical settings for mental health treatment but often diverted for recreational abuse.
The conclusion of this case underscores a shift in federal prosecution strategy, prioritizing the culpability of suppliers in overdose deaths to curb the proliferation of black-market substances that bypass clinical safety protocols.