Jasveen Sangha, dubbed the "Ketamine Queen" by prosecutors, was one of five individuals charged in connection with Matthew Perry's accidental overdose in 2023.
Perry was discovered unresponsive in the pool at his Pacific Palisades home on October 28, 2023. The beloved actor passed away due to the acute effects of ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic known for its hallucinogenic properties.
On August 15, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California announced charges related to Perry's death, alleging in an indictment that Sangha provided the ketamine that ultimately led to his demise.
Three other defendants, including Perry's assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, accepted plea deals, as confirmed by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Sangha, 41, faces nine charges, including conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death.
During her initial court appearance on August 15, Sangha was reported by NBC News to have worn large round glasses and a bright green, oversized Nirvana T-shirt.
The accused drug dealer pleaded not guilty, and the judge ordered her to be held without bond, citing her as a flight risk.
Here’s what we know about Sangha and her alleged role in the tragic death of the "Friends" star.
Charges Against Sangha in Perry's Overdose Case
According to the indictment, Sangha used her North Hollywood, California home, dubbed the "Sangha Stash House" by prosecutors, to store, package, and distribute narcotics, including ketamine and methamphetamine.
The indictment further alleges that in mid-October, Perry's assistant, Iwamasa, sought a new ketamine source for his boss. He contacted an acquaintance, Eric Fleming, who in turn reached out to Sangha, the so-called "Ketamine Queen."
On October 11, 2023, Sangha reportedly messaged Fleming via the encrypted Signal app about her ketamine supply, offering a sample for Perry to try.
“It’s unmarked but it’s amazing — let him take one and see if he likes it. I have more if he does,” she allegedly wrote.
Fleming then forwarded a screenshot of Sangha's message to Iwamasa.
“(J)ust got this from my source. She only deals with high-end clients and celebs,” he wrote. “If it wasn’t top-notch, she’d lose her business.”
Prosecutors allege that on October 14, 2023, Iwamasa purchased 25 vials of ketamine from Fleming and Sangha. Just over a week later, on October 23, 2023, he paid $6,000 for an additional supply.
Sangha informed Fleming that her ketamine supplier, whom she described as a "master chef" and "scientist," would make the additional ketamine available on October 24, 2023, according to the indictment.
Later that day, Fleming delivered another 25 vials of ketamine to Iwamasa.
In the following days, Iwamasa reportedly administered at least six shots of ketamine daily to Perry, culminating in his death on October 28, 2023. On that day, Iwamasa is alleged to have injected Perry with at least three shots of ketamine, resulting in his death and severe bodily injury, as per the indictment.
After news of Perry’s death broke, Sangha texted Fleming, instructing him to “Delete all of our messages,” according to the indictment.
Fleming pleaded guilty on August 8 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The "Sangha Stash House"
Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, described Sangha's residence as a "drug-selling emporium" during an August 14 press conference.
Following Perry's death, authorities executed search warrants at Sangha's North Hollywood home. Investigators discovered 79 vials of ketamine and around 3 pounds of pills containing methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine, and prescription drugs that appeared to be fraudulently obtained, according to the indictment.
Sangha's Criminal History
Sangha's legal troubles date back to March when she was arrested in a separate federal drug case where she was accused of being a “large-volume drug dealer,” according to court records obtained by NBC News.
She was released on a $100,000 bond in that case, NBC News reported.
Five years earlier, Sangha learned firsthand that “unsupervised and improper use of ketamine can be deadly,” according to the indictment.
In August 2019, a man who purchased ketamine from Sangha overdosed and died within a day of the transaction.
A family member of the deceased contacted Sangha, informing her of his death.
“The ketamine you sold my brother killed him,” they wrote. “It’s listed as the cause of death.”
A few days after receiving the message, Sangha reportedly Googled, “can ketamine be listed as a cause of death.”
A charge related to drug distribution in the 2019 case was filed due to the investigation into Perry's death, Estrada revealed during the August 15 press conference, though he did not specify who was charged.