Jasveen Sangha, known on the streets of North Hollywood as the “Ketamine Queen”, was sentenced this Wednesday (the 8th) to serve 15 years in prison. The decision, handed down by a federal court in Los Angeles, puts an end to one of the most critical chapters of the investigation that linked the drug distribution network to the death of actor Matthew Perry, the forever Chandler Bing of “Friends”, which occurred in October 2023.
Sangha had pleaded guilty last year to five serious crimes, including the distribution of ketamine that resulted in death and the operation of a location intended for trafficking. Although the maximum statutory sentence was up to 65 years, prosecutors requested 15 years, arguing that the sanction would be proportionate to her responsibility in the chain of events that led to the actor’s death. The defense asked that only the time already served in custody since August 2024 be considered, but the judge followed the prosecution’s recommendation, emphasizing the need for a stringent punishment. In addition to Sangha, other individuals involved in the case were also sentenced: Dr. Salvador Plasencia received 30 months in prison for four counts of illegal distribution; Kenneth Iwamasa and Erik Fleming, Perry’s personal assistants and intermediary suppliers, are still awaiting sentencing. Lisa Kudrow, who returned to watching the series, remarked that she still laughs as she did the first time, while Perry’s mother recalls her son’s final moments, found lifeless in his hot tub. The toxicology report indicated drowning aggravated by the effects of ketamine and the presence of opioids, revealing that the actor, who had struggled with addiction for decades, was targeted by a network of doctors and traffickers who exploited his habit for financial gain. The case reignites the debate over the role of health authorities and the fight against the trafficking of controlled substances.
