A California court has delivered a significant ruling in the case surrounding the death of Friends star Matthew Perry, sentencing the woman known in Hollywood circles as the “Ketamine Queen” to 15 years in prison. Jasveen Sangha, a 42-year-old American-British national, was sentenced on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, after pleading guilty to several charges, including the distribution of ketamine that resulted in the actor’s death radio-canada.ca.
The sentencing marks the conclusion of a legal journey that began after Perry was found unconscious in his jacuzzi in October 2023 ledevoir.com. The actor, who was 54 at the time of his passing, had spent years openly discussing his struggles with addiction and recovery, making his death a shock to millions of fans worldwide.
While Sangha faced a potential maximum sentence of up to 65 years, her decision to plead guilty last year allowed prosecutors to drop other charges and avoided a full trial by jury radio-canada.ca. She has been in pretrial detention since August 2024.
The Investigation into the “Ketamine Queen”
Jasveen Sangha, described as a jet-setter within certain elite Hollywood circles, became a central figure in the investigation into Perry’s overdose. Investigators discovered that Sangha had sold dozens of doses of ketamine to the actor, contributing to the fatal relapse he suffered in the autumn of 2023 ledevoir.com.
The scale of Sangha’s operation became clear during a search of her residence. Law enforcement officials recovered 80 vials of ketamine, along with quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine radio-canada.ca. These findings underscored a pattern of drug distribution that extended beyond a single client, cementing her reputation as a primary supplier of the anesthetic in the region.
The Complex Battle with Addiction
The tragedy of Matthew Perry’s death highlights the dangerous line between therapeutic medical use and illicit addiction. According to the investigation, Perry had been using ketamine in a supervised medical setting as part of a therapy regimen to treat depression radio-canada.ca.
Ketamine is a legal anesthetic when administered by professionals, but This proves frequently diverted for euphoric or stimulant effects. By late 2023, Perry had fallen back into addiction, seeking the drug through illicit channels rather than supervised medical care ledevoir.com. This relapse ultimately led to the circumstances of his death in October 2023.
Family Presence and Court Proceedings
The emotional weight of the proceedings was evident during the sentencing hearing on Wednesday. Suzanne Perry, the mother of the actor, and her stepfather, Keith Morrison, both attended the hearing to witness the court’s decision regarding Sangha’s penalty radio-canada.ca.
The 15-year sentence reflects the court’s view of the severity of distributing controlled substances that lead to death, while acknowledging the legal parameters of the plea agreement reached between the defense and the prosecution.
Key Case Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Jasveen Sangha (42) |
| Sentence | 15 years imprisonment |
| Primary Charge | Distribution of ketamine resulting in death |
| Evidence Recovered | 80 vials of ketamine, cocaine, and methamphetamine |
| Date of Sentencing | April 8, 2026 |
With this sentence, the legal proceedings regarding the immediate supply of the fatal dose have reached a conclusion. The case serves as a stark reminder of the risks associated with the diversion of prescription anesthetics and the ongoing struggle of addiction, even for those who have sought professional help.
There are currently no further scheduled hearings listed for Jasveen Sangha following this sentencing. We invite our readers to share their thoughts on this ruling in the comments below.