Drug dealer admits supplying ketamine that killed Friends star Matthew Perry in 2023
The drug dealer known as the “Ketamine Queen” has admitted supplying the dose that killed Friends actor Matthew Perry.
Jasveen Sangha, 42, pleaded guilty in a US court to multiple counts of ketamine distribution, including one charge directly linked to Perry’s death in October 2023. She also admitted to operating a drug-involved premises.
The actor, best known for playing Chandler Bing in the long-running sitcom, was found unresponsive in his hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home in Los Angeles. A post-mortem revealed he died from the acute effects of ketamine, having drowned after consuming a fatal dose.
Sangha, who holds dual British and American citizenship, had initially denied the allegations. Her plea change came after weeks of negotiation with prosecutors, just ahead of her scheduled trial. Her solicitor, Mark Geragos, said she was “taking responsibility for her actions”.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe guilty pleas carry a potential maximum sentence of 45 years in prison, though prosecutors have indicated they will request a penalty below the maximum. A judge will make the final decision at her sentencing hearing in December 2025.
Sangha is the fifth and final defendant to plead guilty in connection with Perry’s death. Dr Salvador Plasencia, Dr Mark Chavez, Kenneth Iwamasa and Erik Fleming all admitted related charges earlier this year as part of deals struck with prosecutors. None of the group has yet been sentenced.
Court documents revealed Perry, 54, had been undergoing ketamine therapy for depression through legitimate prescriptions but was consuming the drug excessively, reportedly up to eight times daily. When his physician refused to continue issuing high-dose prescriptions, investigators say Perry turned to Sangha for illicit supplies.
The court heard that Sangha had been a key supplier in the underground ketamine market, earning her the nickname “Ketamine Queen”.
During the investigation, prosecutors uncovered a network of providers supplying Perry with ketamine despite his ongoing struggles with substance abuse. In his 2022 memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, Perry wrote candidly about his decades-long battle with addiction, including repeated stints in rehab and near-fatal overdoses.
His death in October 2023 sent shockwaves through Hollywood and across the world. Fans and former colleagues mourned the loss of an actor who had been open about his vulnerabilities and determination to help others battling addiction.
Co-star Jennifer Aniston reflected on Perry’s struggles in a recent interview, admitting the cast had long feared such an outcome. She told Vanity Fair:
“We did everything we could when we could. But it almost felt like we’d been mourning Matthew for a long time because his battle with that disease was a really hard one for him to fight.”
She added: “As hard as it was for all of us and for the fans, there’s a part of me that thinks this is better. I’m glad he’s out of that pain.”
The guilty plea marks a major milestone in the legal fallout from Perry’s death. Sangha’s admission ensures that all those charged in connection with the case have now accepted responsibility. For Perry’s family, friends and millions of fans, the resolution may offer a measure of closure, even as the final sentences are yet to be delivered.
Perry’s death remains a stark reminder of the risks tied to substance misuse, even when involving drugs increasingly prescribed for legitimate mental health treatment.