Friends say ‘Ketamine Queen’ fell after Matthew Perry’s death
Jasveen Sangha, a dual British‑American national dubbed the “Ketamine Queen”, has pleaded guilty to federal charges linked to the overdose death of former “Friends” star Matthew Perry.
The former actress‑turned‑drug dealer is the last of five defendants awaiting sentencing in February, a case that exposed a clandestine ketamine network catering to Hollywood’s elite. If convicted, she could face up to 65 years in U.S. prison.
According to Bill Bodner, special agent in charge of the DEA’s Los Angeles office, Sangha ran a “somewhat large” trafficking operation from a North Hollywood “stash house” that supplied cocaine, Xanax, counterfeit Adderall and, most notably, ketamine to celebrities.
Prosecutors allege that Perry, who died in 2023 after a battle with depression and addiction, was prescribed ketamine for therapeutic use but sought higher doses. The excess was allegedly obtained through a chain of doctors, an intermediary and ultimately Sangha’s operation.
“She feels horrible. She’s felt horrible from day one,” said Mark Geragos, her attorney, after Sangha entered her guilty plea. Geragos maintained that Sangha is taking responsibility but denied she ever met Perry.
Friends describe Sangha as a well‑educated socialite with a privileged upbringing. She graduated with an MBA from Hult International Business School and grew up in Los Angeles after her mother remarried. Close acquaintances, including Tony Marquez and Jash Negandhi, say they knew nothing of her illicit activities until the raid on her home.
Marquez, a long‑time companion on the California party circuit, told the BBC that the group – known as the “Kitties” – threw marathon parties at venues such as Avalon and Lake Havasu, often featuring ketamine. “We were always looking for high‑quality ketamine from the source, not diluted fentanyl,” he explained.
Legal documents reveal Sangha’s involvement dates back to at least 2019, when she allegedly sold 50 vials of ketamine that reached Perry. In a separate incident, she is accused of providing ketamine that caused the 2019 overdose death of Cody McLaury.
Martin Estrada, former chief prosecutor for the Central District of California, warned that the continuation of Sangha’s conduct led to multiple fatalities, underscoring the danger of unregulated drug distribution.
The case highlights a growing concern in both the United States and Ghana about the misuse of prescription ketamine. Ghanaian health authorities have warned that the drug, while approved for certain medical conditions, can be exploited for recreational abuse, mirroring the patterns seen in the U.S. trial.
The court will deliver Sangha’s sentence in February. Observers anticipate that the outcome will send a strong deterrent message to illicit drug networks targeting high‑profile clients.
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