Jasveen Sanga, known as the “Ketamine Queen,” who had pleaded guilty to the illegal sale of ketamine that caused the death of Friends actor Matthew Perry, was sentenced on Holy Wednesday to 15 years in prison and three years of supervised release after her release.

Sanga had pleaded guilty in the fall of 2024 to five federal charges related to Matthew Perry’s death from an overdose in 2023 and has been in custody since her arrest in August 2024.

In a court filing submitted on March 25, federal prosecutors in the Central District of California requested a sentence of 180 months in prison, describing Sanga as “a drug dealer who sold drugs that harmed people,” noting that she continued trafficking even after learning her drugs were linked to the actor’s death. Prosecutors said her actions demonstrate cold cruelty and disregard for human life, emphasizing that she put profit above people and caused great pain to victims’ families.

On the defense side, attorneys Mark J. Geragos and Alexandra Kazarian argued in a 16-page memorandum that the defendant has taken responsibility for her serious criminal conduct and requested a sentence equal to the time she has already served.

The death of Matthew Perry

Matthew Perry, 54, was found dead on October 28, 2023, in the heated section of the pool at his home in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. The medical examiner attributed his death to an accidental ketamine overdose.

The actor, known for his role as Chandler Bing in Friends, had spoken openly about his addiction to drugs and alcohol. In the final months of his life, he was undergoing ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety, while also reportedly seeking doses without medical supervision.

The ketamine trafficking network

According to prosecutors, Sanga worked with Erik Fleming to supply ketamine to Perry. In the month of his death, they allegedly sold 51 vials of ketamine, which were delivered to the actor’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, who administered repeated injections—even on the day of his death. After Perry’s death, Sanga allegedly sent a message to Fleming via the Signal app asking him to delete the messages.

Fleming and Iwamasa have also pleaded guilty to charges related to ketamine distribution, with their sentencing expected later this month. Sanga, a dual U.S. and U.K. citizen, admitted she had been using her North Hollywood home to store, package, and distribute drugs since at least 2019, including ketamine and methamphetamine. She also admitted to selling ketamine to Cody McLaury in 2019, who died a few hours later from an overdose.