LOS ANGELES (AP)
A North Hollywood woman known as the “Ketamine Queen” was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in federal prison for running a drug operation that supplied ketamine linked to multiple deaths, including the 2023 overdose of actor Matthew Perry, authorities said.
Jasveen Sangha, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett after pleading guilty to maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of ketamine distribution and one count of distribution resulting in death or serious bodily injury.
Prosecutors said Sangha operated a high-volume drug trafficking business out of her North Hollywood home for years, marketing herself to high-end clientele while ignoring the risks posed by the drugs she sold.
According to court records, Sangha worked with Erik Fleming, 56, to supply ketamine to Perry through the actor’s live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, 61. In October 2023, Sangha and Fleming sold 51 vials of ketamine that were delivered to Iwamasa.
On Oct. 28, 2023, Iwamasa injected Perry with at least three doses of ketamine supplied by Sangha, causing his death, prosecutors said.
After Perry’s death became public, Sangha and Fleming communicated on the encrypted messaging app Signal about distancing themselves from the case. Sangha changed her app settings to delete messages and instructed Fleming to erase their communications, according to court filings.
Authorities stated that they also linked Sangha to another fatal overdose. In 2019, she sold ketamine to Cody McLaury, who died hours later.
A search of Sangha’s residence in March 2024 uncovered thousands of methamphetamine pills, ketamine vials, MDMA, counterfeit Xanax, cocaine and drug trafficking tools, including a money-counting machine and packaging materials, officials said.
Several others connected to the case have also been sentenced. Salvador Plasencia, 44, of Santa Monica, received a 30-month sentence after admitting to distributing ketamine and has surrendered his medical license.
Mark Chavez, 55, of San Diego, was sentenced to probation, home detention and community service after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and also relinquished his medical license.
Iwamasa and Fleming have pleaded guilty to federal narcotics charges and are awaiting sentencing.
The case was investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Quick Facts
- Defendant: Jasveen Sangha, 42
- Alias: “Ketamine Queen”
- Sentence: 15 years (180 months) in federal prison
- Key Charge: Distribution of ketamine resulting in death
- Victims: Includes actor Matthew Perry (Oct. 2023)
- Operation: Drug sales run from North Hollywood residence since at least 2019
- Other Evidence: Meth pills, ketamine, MDMA, counterfeit Xanax, cocaine, cash seized
- Co-Defendants: Doctor and clinic operator sentenced; assistant and supplier awaiting sentencing