Prosecutors Call Her the 'Ketamine Queen': All About Woman at Center of Matthew Perry Death Case
Jasveen Sangha is one of five defendants charged in connection with Perry's death
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Matthew Perry, left, and Jasveen SanghaA woman charged in connection with the death of Matthew Perry was dubbed “The Ketamine Queen” by federal prosecutors.
Jasveen Sangha, one of five defendants charged, is accused of having distributed the ketamine that killed the Friends star, the Department of Justice said.
In a federal indictment reviewed by PEOPLE, prosecutors allege that Sangha operated a stash house in North Hollywood, where they claim she would "store, package, and distribute narcotics."
Sangha is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute ketamine and five counts of distribution of ketamine.
If she is convicted, she could potentially face up to life in prison.
Prosecutors allege that Sangha distributed drugs to Erik Fleming, who is an acquaintance of Perry's, who in turn distributed them to Perry’s live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa.
Both Fleming and Iwamasa have pleaded guilty to related charges and could face 15 and 25 years in federal prison, respectively.
Prosecutors claim that Fleming was an intermediary between Sangha and Iwamasa. Fleming obtained 50 vials from Sangha, the justice department alleges, and then distributed them to Perry’s assistant, who admitted to “repeatedly” injecting the actor.
The indictment alleges that Sangha allowed Fleming to take a sample for Perry to try.
“It’s unmarked but it’s amazing – he take one and try it and I have more if he likes,” she allegedly messaged Fleming.
Fleming then sent a screenshot of the message to Iwamasa and allegedly touted Sangha’s reputation, according to the indictment.
“[J]ust got this from my person,” Fleming wrote. “She only deal[s] with high end and celebs. If it were not great stuff she’d lose her business.”
After Perry died on Oct. 28, 2023, Sangha allegedly texted Fleming, “Delete all our messages.”
The Justice Department alleges that Perry’s death is not the first ketamine-related death linked to Sangha.
In 2019, prosecutors allege in their press release that she sold ketamine to a man who overdosed hours later. When a family member of the man informed Sangha, she allegedly Googled, “can ketamine be listed as a cause of death.”
According to the Justice Department, the Los Angeles Police Department searched Sangha’s residence and allegedly found about 79 vials of ketamine, 1.4 kilograms of pills containing methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine and prescription drugs.
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The Associated Press reported that Sangha pleaded not guilty and was denied bond.
Dr. Salvador Plasencia is also charged in connection with Perry’s death, with prosecutors alleging that he purchased ketamine from fellow doctor Mark Chavez and in turn sold it to Iwamasa.
Chavez, the fifth defendant, will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, officials said.
United States Attorney Martin Estrada said at a press conference announcing the charges that the defendants took advantage of Perry, who has long struggled with addiction.
“These defendants cared more about profiting off of Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being,” Estrada said in a statement. “Drug dealers selling dangerous substances are gambling with other people’s lives over greed. This case, along with our many other prosecutions of drug-dealers who cause death, send a clear message that we will hold drug-dealers accountable for the deaths they cause.”
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