A California woman dubbed the “Ketamine Queen” has received a 15-year prison sentence for supplying the fatal ketamine dose that killed Friends star Matthew Perry, following emotional testimony from the actor’s stepmother branding her “heartless” and demanding maximum punishment.
Jasveen Sangha initially contested charges related to Perry’s October 2023 death aged 54, before reversing course and entering a guilty plea through a signed statement last year mere weeks before her scheduled trial commencement.
Perry’s stepmother Debbie submitted a victim impact statement ahead of sentencing proceedings, characterising Sangha as heartless whilst urging the judge to impose the harshest available jail term for her role in the beloved actor’s death.
The sentencing represents the third conviction amongst five individuals who pleaded guilty to various charges connected to Perry’s fatal overdose, including physicians and the actor’s personal assistant who facilitated his illegal ketamine acquisition.
Dr Salvador Plasencia received a two-and-a-half year sentence in December 2024 for illegally supplying ketamine to Perry during the weeks preceding his death, whilst Dr Mark Chavez was sentenced to eight months home confinement after admitting selling the anaesthetic to Plasencia.
Perry had battled addiction for years before releasing a memoir approximately 12 months before his death during a clean period, with the actor having utilised ketamine through his regular physician as a legal but off-label depression treatment.
However, in the weeks before his fatal overdose, Perry had commenced seeking additional ketamine supplies through illicit channels beyond his prescribed medical usage, ultimately connecting with Sangha through intermediaries including his assistant.
The case exposed a network of medical professionals and dealers willing to exploit the vulnerable actor’s addiction struggles for financial gain, with prosecutors alleging the defendants prioritised profit over patient welfare whilst supplying dangerous quantities of the powerful anaesthetic.
Ketamine—typically employed as a surgical anaesthetic and increasingly prescribed off-label for treatment-resistant depression—carries significant overdose risks when used outside medical supervision, particularly when combined with other substances or taken in excessive quantities.
Perry’s death shocked fans globally and reignited conversations about celebrity addiction vulnerabilities and the responsibilities of medical professionals treating high-profile patients struggling with substance abuse issues.
The remaining defendants connected to Perry’s death await sentencing proceedings.
