Ketamine Queen Sentenced to 15 Years for Matthew Perry’s Death

Jasveen Sangha, a drug dealer known as the Ketamine Queen, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on April 8, 2026, for her role in the overdose death of actor Matthew Perry. U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Garnett delivered the sentence during a hearing at the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

The sentence matches the 180-month term requested by federal prosecutors. In addition to the prison term, Sangha was sentenced to three years of supervised release. This penalty is the most severe given to any of the five individuals charged in connection with the death of the Friends star.

Criminal Charges and Plea Agreement

Sangha previously pleaded guilty to five felony charges. These included one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury.

According to court filings and the indictment, Sangha operated a drug distribution network from her residence in a midrise complex in North Hollywood. Prosecutors alleged that she used the apartment to produce, stockpile, and sell illicit drugs over a five-year period, with the residence functioning as a distribution hub starting no later than 2019.

Prosecutors argued that Sangha deliberately marketed herself as an exclusive dealer to attract high-profile Hollywood clientele to expand her profits. They further alleged that she continued to sell drugs even after learning that the substances she provided had caused Perry’s death.

Background on Jasveen Sangha

Born in London to parents Nilem Singh and Baljeet Singh Chhokar, Sangha is of Punjabi origin. Her grandparents had earned a fortune in the east London fashion retail industry. Following her mother’s remarriage, the family moved to Calabasas, California.

Sangha graduated from high school in Calabasas in 2001. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from the University of California, Irvine, and an M.B.A. From Hult International Business School in London in 2010. While she was involved with a business called the Stiletto Nail Bar in Studio City, Los Angeles, prosecutors noted that she did not appear to have legitimate employment from 2019 onward.

Court Proceedings and Reactions

During the sentencing hearing, Sangha expressed regret for her poor choices and horrible decisions that ultimately proved tragic, stating that she prays for forgiveness daily.

Keith Morrison, the stepfather of Matthew Perry and a Dateline correspondent, described the judge’s ruling as a highly reasoned sentence. He noted that while he felt badly for the perpetrator, the loss of Perry was still deeply felt.

Sangha’s “actions show a cold callousness and disregard for life. She chose profits over people, and her actions have caused immense pain to the victims’ families and loved ones,” the prosecutors added.

U.S. Attorneys for the Central District of California

Context of Matthew Perry’s Death

Matthew Perry, who played Chandler Bing on the NBC sitcom Friends, was found dead in a jacuzzi at his Los Angeles home in October 2023. He was 54 years old and had a decades-long history of battling substance abuse.

The circumstances of his death led to a criminal investigation and the subsequent arrest of several individuals, including Sangha, who has remained in federal custody since August 2024.