One of the five people arrested over the death of Friends star Matthew Perry is known as the "Ketamine Queen of Los Angeles."
The actor was found unresponsive it a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on October 28 last year, aged 54. An autopsy report found Perry died from the acute effects of ketamine and subsequent drowning. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic used as a treatment for depression and pain management.
On Thursday, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California revealed it had arrested five people in connection with Perry's death.
One of the people named was Jasveen Sangha, who has been referred to as the "Ketamine Queen."
The 41 year old has been accused of allegedly supplying Perry with the ketamine that led to his death.
The other people arrested were Perry's live-in assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry's friend Erik Fleming and doctors Mark Chavez and Salvador Plasencia. It's alleged the five people all "falsely prescribed, sold or injected the ketamine that caused Matthew Perry's tragic death."
Sangha was charged with one count each of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, maintaining a drug-involved premises, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, as well as five counts of distribution of ketamine.
If convicted of all charges, Sangha could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
"These defendants cared more about profiting off of Mr. Perry than caring for his well-being," said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. "Drug dealers selling dangerous substances are gambling with other people's lives over greed. This case, along with our many other prosecutions of drug-dealers who cause death, send a clear message that we will hold drug-dealers accountable for the deaths they cause."
It's claimed Sangha earned her nickname because she was known for allegedly selling ketamine from a North Hollywood property known as the "Sangha Stash House" since at least 2019, according to the DOJ.
When searching her home with warrants, the Los Angeles Police Department found 79 vials of ketamine, approximately 1.4 kilograms of pills containing methamphetamine, cocaine and prescription drugs that appeared to be fraudulently obtained.
U.S. attorney Martin Estrada described it as a "drug selling emporium."
It's suggested Sangha knew the dangers of ketamine, according to prosecutors, because in 2019 a family member of victim Cody McLaury contacted her saying that her ketamine had killed.
It's alleged that she then did a Google search for "can ketamine be listed as a cause of death[?]," but continued to sell ketamine.
"We were and still are heartbroken by Matthew's death, but it has helped to know law enforcement has taken his case very seriously," the family said in a statement. "We look forward to justice taking its course."
Sangha, who is a dual British and American citizen, was arrested in March in a separate federal drug case and accused of being "a large volume drug dealer." She was released from custody in the March case after posting a $100,000 bond, according to NBC News.
About the writer
Shannon Power is a Greek-Australian reporter, but now calls London home. They have worked as across three continents in print, ... Read more
