Who is Jasveen Sangha – the “ketamine queen” accused of supplying Matthew Perry?

Jasveen Sangha is one of five people arrested this week in connection with the death of Friends Actor Matthew Perry, but who is the “Ketamine Queen”?

On Thursday, U.S. federal authorities held a press conference where they confirmed that they had uncovered a “large-scale criminal network” of ketamine suppliers that had “exploited” Perry's addiction problems. Five people were arrested.

The actor was found dead in his Los Angeles home on October 28 at the age of 54. An autopsy report concluded his death was accidental and showed he died from the acute effects of ketamine, with contributing factors including drowning.

Police launched a criminal investigation into Perry's death in May and said they were working with federal authorities to determine the source of the ketamine the 54-year-old actor had consumed.

Among the five now arrested are two doctors and Perry's personal assistant as well as Sangha, who is also known as the “ketamine queen” according to police.

What allegations are made against Jasveen Sangha?

Sangha, 41, is ultimately accused by authorities of supplying Perry with the ketamine doses that killed him, U.S. Attorney E. Martin Estrada confirmed.

She is charged with conspiracy to distribute ketamine, operating a drug operation, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of ketamine with intent to distribute, and five counts of distribution of ketamine.

One of the other arrested, Erik Fleming, is said to have received the drug from Sangha, which he then admitted to passing on to Perry’s personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa (via Sky News). Investigators said that after news of Perry's death became known, Sangha texted another suspect telling him to “delete all our messages.”

Sangha has pleaded not guilty. Her lawyer, Mark Geragos, said prosecutors went too far in charging her and the other defendants.

“Just because it's a tragedy doesn't mean it's a crime,” he said (via NBC News). “I understand that people want to hold others accountable, but I think it will be very difficult for them to hold others accountable.”

Who is the “Ketamine Queen”?

Based on pictures posted on her Instagram account, Sangha enjoys an expensive lifestyle, lives in the North Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, and recently vacationed in Japan and Mexico (via Independent).

Estrada called Sangha's house a “drug trafficking center,” but the indictment refers to it as a “Sangha hideout.”

Prosecutors also say they uncovered her alleged connection to the death of another man, Cody McLaury, in 2019. She reportedly received a text message from McLaury's family after his death saying her ketamine killed him (via BBC).

They claim that after receiving the message, Sangha searched online to see if “ketamine could be listed as a cause of death.” Authorities say Sangha will now face charges in that case.

Prosecutors also allege that Sangha began delivering to him just days before Perry's death, and that the shipment he received on October 24 led to Perry's death four days later.

It is believed that she came into contact with Perry through Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who is said to have supplied Perry with ketamine before there were supply problems. Plasencia has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.