Jasveen Sangha, a 42-year-old woman dubbed the “Ketamine Queen” by prosecutors, has agreed to plead guilty to multiple federal drug charges in connection with the 2023 overdose death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced the plea agreement on Monday, August 18, 2025, marking a significant development in the case that has seen five individuals charged.
Sangha, a dual citizen of the United States and the United Kingdom, will plead guilty to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury. According to the Department of Justice, she faces a statutory maximum sentence of 65 years in federal prison. She has been in federal custody since August 2024 and is expected to formally enter her plea in the coming weeks.
Matthew Perry, 54, was found dead in the hot tub of his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner later determined his death was caused by the acute effects of ketamine. While Perry had been receiving ketamine infusion therapy for depression, the amount found in his system was not from his last known therapeutic session.
The federal investigation revealed a network of individuals who supplied Perry with the drug outside of legitimate medical channels. Sangha is the fifth and final defendant to reach a plea agreement with prosecutors. According to her plea agreement, she worked with co-defendant Erik Fleming, 55, to sell Perry 51 vials of ketamine in the weeks leading up to his death. The drugs were delivered to Kenneth Iwamasa, 60, Perry’s live-in personal assistant, who then administered the injections that ultimately proved fatal.
Court documents reveal that after news of Perry’s death broke, Sangha and Fleming attempted to cover their tracks. Fleming left Sangha a voicemail stating, “I’m 90% sure everyone is protected. I never dealt with [Perry]. Only his Assistant. So the Assistant was the enabler,” as reported by the New York Post. Sangha also instructed Fleming to delete their messages.
In her plea agreement, Sangha also admitted to operating a “drug-selling emporium” from her North Hollywood residence since at least June 2019, distributing substances including MDMA, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Furthermore, she admitted to selling ketamine to another man, Cody McLaury, who died of an overdose hours later in August 2019.
The other four defendants in the case have also pleaded guilty:
- Erik Fleming pleaded guilty in August 2024 to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death. He faces up to 25 years in prison.
- Kenneth Iwamasa pleaded guilty in August 2024 to conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death and faces a maximum of 15 years.
- Dr. Mark Chavez, a 55-year-old physician, pleaded guilty in October 2024 to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and faces up to 10 years.
- Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 43, pleaded guilty in July to four counts of ketamine distribution and faces up to 10 years per count.
The investigation, a joint effort by the Los Angeles Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, has unraveled a complex scheme that exploited Perry’s well-documented struggles with addiction. As reported by the BBC and other outlets, prosecutors argued the defendants prioritized profit over the actor’s well-being. With all five defendants now having accepted responsibility, the legal chapter following the beloved actor’s tragic death is nearing its conclusion, pending their sentencing hearings scheduled over the coming months.
