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EntertainmentApr 9

Woman who sold Matthew Perry fatal ketamine to be sentenced Wednesday

Jasveen Sangha, dubbed the 'Ketamine Queen,' faces sentencing for selling the ketamine that killed actor Matthew Perry in 2023.

Synthesized from 14 sources

A woman who admitted to selling Matthew Perry the ketamine that killed him is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday in federal court in Los Angeles. Jasveen Sangha, 42, will be the third defendant sentenced among five people who pleaded guilty in connection with the actor's 2023 overdose death.

Sangha is the only defendant whose plea agreement included an acknowledgment of causing Perry's death. Prosecutors are seeking a 15-year prison sentence for the woman they have dubbed the "Ketamine Queen," alleging she operated an elaborate drug distribution network serving high-end clients. Her defense attorneys argue that time served since her August 2024 indictment should be sufficient punishment, citing her lack of prior criminal history and exemplary behavior while incarcerated.

Perry, known for his role as Chandler Bing on the television series "Friends," was found dead in the hot tub at his Los Angeles home. The medical examiner determined that ketamine was the primary cause of death. While Perry had been receiving ketamine legally from his doctor as an off-label treatment for depression, he sought additional quantities beyond what his physician would prescribe.

According to prosecutors, Perry's quest for more ketamine led him first to Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for illegally selling the actor ketamine. Perry then obtained drugs from Sangha, who sold him 25 vials of ketamine for $6,000 in cash four days before his death, including the fatal dose.

In September, Sangha pleaded guilty to five counts including using her home for drug distribution, three counts of ketamine distribution, and one count of distribution resulting in death. She also admitted to selling drugs to another individual who died of an overdose in 2019. Two other defendants in the case - Perry's assistant and a friend who acted as middlemen - are awaiting sentencing. Members of Perry's family are expected to provide victim impact statements before the court announces Sangha's sentence.

Sources (14)

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