A Los Angeles woman known as the "Ketamine Queen" has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for her role in supplying the drugs that led to actor Matthew Perry's death in 2023.
Jasveen Sangha, 42, received the sentence on April 8 after pleading guilty to multiple drug distribution charges, including one count of distributing ketamine resulting in death. The "Friends" star died at age 54 from acute effects of ketamine.
Before her sentencing, Sangha addressed the courtroom, describing her actions as "poor choices" and "horrible decisions that ultimately proved tragic." She told the court, "I pray for forgiveness every day. Thank you for giving me the harshest reality check of my life."
Federal prosecutors had pushed for the 15-year sentence, which was delivered by United States District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett. Sangha's attorneys had requested she be sentenced to time served, noting she has been in federal custody since her arrest in August 2024.
Perry's stepfather, Keith Morrison, addressed the court during the hearing, praising Judge Garnett for issuing what he called a "highly reasoned sentence." The "Dateline" correspondent, who is married to the actor's mother Suzanne Perry, expressed mixed emotions about the outcome.
"We miss Matthew dreadfully, of course," Morrison said, "and I feel badly for the perpetrator here as well. Nobody won today."
Sangha is one of five defendants who have pleaded guilty in connection with Perry's death. Former physician Salvador Plasencia, 44, surrendered his medical license and is serving a 30-month sentence for selling Perry vials of ketamine. Mark Chavez, 55, received three years of probation, eight months of home detention, and 300 hours of community service for his role in the drug distribution chain.
Perry's former assistant Kenneth Iwamasa and drug dealer Erik Fleming have also pleaded guilty to drug-related charges but have yet to be sentenced.
The case highlights the ongoing legal consequences stemming from the beloved actor's tragic death, which shocked fans worldwide and brought renewed attention to the dangers of ketamine abuse.