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Matthew Perry‘s ketamine supplier had a history of drug-related charges before and after his death. Jasveen Sangha, dubbed “The Ketamine Queen” by prosecutors, was arrested on August 15, 2024 in relation to Perry’s death.
Matthew Perry died at the age of 54 from an apparent drowning, according to TMZ. The publication reported that the Friends actor was found dead in a hot tub at his home in Los Angeles, California, on Saturday, October 28, 2023. The autopsy reported “the acute effects of ketamine” contributed to his death, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Related: The Friends cast react to Matthew Perry’s death
On August 15, 2024, it was revealed that five people had been charged with causing Perry’s death, including his longtime personal assistant, Kenneth “Kenny” Iwamasa. US District Attorney Martin Estrada said in a press conference that Perry relapsed from his substance abuse issues last fall and the five people charged with his death “took advantage to profit for themselves.”
Where Is Jasveen Sangha now?
After she pleaded not guilty, the judge ordered Jasveen Sangha held without bail because she was a flight risk. She was wearing large, round glasses and dressed in a baggy, bright-green Nirvana T-shirt during her court appearance, according to NBC News.
Sangha was previously arrested in March in a separate federal drug case in which she was accused of being “a large volume drug dealer.” court records show she was out on $100,000 bond when she was arrested for Perry’s death on August 15, 2024.
What is Jasveen Sangha charged with?
Jasveen Sangha is facing nine charges: one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine, one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute ketamine, and five counts of distribution of ketamine.
Four other people were arrested in the involvement of Matthew Perry’s death. Dr. Erik Fleming is alleged to have obtained the drug from Sangha, which he has admitted to then passing on to Iwamasa. Iwamasa paid the doctors $55,000 in cash for 20 vials of ketamine. Dr. Salvador Plasencia pleaded not guilty after he was alleged to have been providing ketamine to Perry before running into supply issues.
“It’s unmarked but it’s amazing — he take one and try it and I have more if he likes,” she wrote in text messages obtained by court documents. Fleming proceed to allegedly text a screenshot of Sangha’s message and sent it to Iwamasa. “(J)ust got this from my person. She only deal(s) with high end and celebs,” he wrote. “If it were not great stuff she’d lose her business.”
After the news of Perry’s death broke, Sangha texted Fleming: “Delete all of our messages.” According to Variety, Perry had been undergoing ketamine infusion therapy prior to his death, reportedly for depression and anxiety. The toxicology report adds: “At the high levels of ketamine found in his postmortem blood specimens, the main lethal effects would be from both cardiovascular overstimulation and respiratory depression.”
Prosecutors found 79 vials of ketamine and approximately 3 pounds of pills containing methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine and prescription drugs that appeared to be fraudulently obtained in her North Hollywood home. Martin Estrada, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, described Sangha’s home as a “drug-selling emporium”
Sangha was involved in another ketamine-related death after a man overdosed a day after the drug deal. “The ketamine you sold my brother killed him,” they wrote. “It’s listed as the cause of death.” Prosecutors then noted Sangha then typed a question into Google: “Can ketamine be listed as a cause of death.”
Image: Flatiron Books.
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