A federal judge in Los Angeles sentenced Jasveen Sangha to 15 years in prison for distributing the ketamine that killed "Friends" star Matthew Perry in October 2023, closing one of the highest-profile celebrity drug-death prosecutions in recent memory.

Sangha, dubbed the "Ketamine Queen" by prosecutors for her role as a prolific drug dealer to Hollywood's elite, received the sentence on Tuesday after pleading guilty to one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death. The New York Post reported that U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett handed down the sentence in a Los Angeles federal courtroom, where Perry's family members were present and delivered emotional victim impact statements.

A drug pipeline to the stars

Prosecutors described Sangha as a key link in the chain that funneled ketamine to Perry in the final weeks of his life. Perry, 54, was found unresponsive in the hot tub of his Pacific Palisades home on October 28, 2023. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled his death was caused by the acute effects of ketamine, with contributing factors including drowning, coronary artery disease, and the effects of buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid addiction.

Sangha allegedly operated out of her North Hollywood residence, which investigators described as a drug-selling operation stocked with ketamine, methamphetamine, and other controlled substances. Prosecutors said she sold the ketamine that ultimately killed Perry through an intermediary, Erik Fleming, who personally delivered the drugs to the actor.

Fleming, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine, was sentenced separately and received a lesser term for his cooperation with federal investigators. His testimony helped prosecutors build the case against Sangha, establishing the trail from her supply to Perry's fatal dose.

The investigation that unraveled a network

The case drew national attention not only because of Perry's fame but because it exposed a broader underground market for ketamine among wealthy Los Angeles residents. Federal prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California pursued a sweeping investigation that ultimately ensnared multiple defendants.

Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a licensed physician known as "Dr. P," was also charged in connection with Perry's death. Prosecutors alleged Plasencia exploited Perry's addiction by selling him ketamine at inflated prices, writing in text messages that he wondered how much the actor would pay for the drug. Plasencia was convicted at trial on multiple charges related to the distribution scheme.

Celebrity legal troubles have become a recurring fixture in Los Angeles courts, from Mickey Rourke's recent courtroom struggles over his rental property to far more serious criminal matters. But the Perry case stands apart for the gravity of its outcome and the number of defendants swept up in the federal probe.

Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry's live-in personal assistant, also pleaded guilty to administering the ketamine injections that killed the actor. Iwamasa admitted he injected Perry with the drug multiple times on the day of his death, including a final dose administered while Perry sat in his hot tub. Iwamasa cooperated with prosecutors and awaits sentencing.

Prosecutors pushed for a harsh sentence

Federal prosecutors had urged Judge Garnett to impose a sentence near the top of the guidelines range, arguing that Sangha showed a callous disregard for human life by distributing dangerous drugs for profit. In court filings, prosecutors noted that Sangha continued to sell ketamine even after learning that one of her previous customers had died from an overdose involving drugs she supplied.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Erik Pedersen told the court that Sangha was not a casual dealer but a calculated businesswoman who maintained a client list and kept a stash house. Prosecutors presented text messages in which Sangha discussed drug transactions and negotiated prices with buyers, painting a picture of a deliberate and ongoing criminal enterprise.

Sangha's defense attorneys argued for a lower sentence, contending that their client was not the primary cause of Perry's death and that the actor bore some responsibility for his own drug use. They pointed to Perry's long and public struggle with addiction, which the actor himself had written about extensively in his 2022 memoir, "Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing."

Perry's family confronts his dealer

The sentencing hearing took an emotional turn when members of Perry's family addressed the court. Perry's stepfather, Keith Morrison, a veteran journalist, delivered a victim impact statement describing the devastation the family has endured since the actor's death.

"Matthew fought his addiction every single day of his adult life. The people who sold him those drugs knew exactly what they were doing and did not care whether he lived or died."

Perry's mother, Suzanne Morrison, was also present in the courtroom. The family has been vocal throughout the legal proceedings, expressing gratitude to federal prosecutors for pursuing accountability against those who supplied the drugs.

The entertainment world has watched this case closely. High-profile legal entanglements involving celebrities, whether criminal accusations against actors like Shia LaBeouf or civil disputes, generate intense public scrutiny. But the Perry case carries a weight that extends beyond tabloid interest because it resulted in a death and a federal prosecution with real prison time.

What the sentence means legally

The 15-year sentence reflects the seriousness with which federal courts treat drug distribution resulting in death. Under federal law, the charge carries a mandatory minimum of 20 years, but Sangha's guilty plea and the specific terms of her plea agreement allowed the court to impose a sentence below that threshold.

Legal observers noted that the sentence sends a message to drug dealers who supply controlled substances to high-profile clients. The U.S. Attorney's Office issued a statement after the sentencing calling the case a warning that those who profit from addiction will face severe consequences.

Martin Estrada, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, said in a statement following the hearing:

"This sentence holds accountable a drug dealer who prioritized profits over human life. We will continue to pursue anyone who fuels addiction and causes death through the illegal distribution of dangerous drugs."

The case also raises questions about the growing use of ketamine outside clinical settings. Originally developed as an anesthetic, ketamine has gained popularity both as a party drug and as an off-label treatment for depression and chronic pain. Its increasing availability has created a gray market where licensed physicians and unlicensed dealers alike profit from demand.

Remaining defendants and next steps

With Sangha now sentenced, the federal case is nearing its conclusion, though some defendants still await final disposition. Iwamasa's sentencing remains pending. Dr. Plasencia, who was convicted at trial, faces a sentencing hearing that has not yet been scheduled.

A fifth defendant, Eric Fleming's associate who helped broker the drug transactions, also cooperated with prosecutors and received a reduced sentence. The breadth of the prosecution underscores how federal investigators treated Perry's death not as an isolated overdose but as the end result of a criminal supply chain.

Perry's death at 54 robbed fans of one of the most recognizable television actors of his generation. His portrayal of Chandler Bing on "Friends" made him a household name, and his candid public discussions of addiction made him a figure of sympathy and respect. That his death led to a federal drug conspiracy case involving doctors, dealers, and personal assistants reveals just how entrenched the underground ketamine market had become in certain Los Angeles circles.

Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether the investigation led to the identification of additional suppliers or clients beyond those already charged. Federal prosecutors have given no indication that further indictments are forthcoming, but the scope of evidence gathered during the probe suggests investigators now possess a detailed map of the local ketamine trade.

Accountability, finally

For Perry's family, the sentence represents a measure of justice after more than two years of grief compounded by a slow-moving investigation. For prosecutors, it validates a decision to treat a celebrity overdose death as a serious federal crime rather than a tragic accident to be quietly closed.

The case also tests whether the justice system will consistently apply the same rigor when the victims are less famous. Drug distribution resulting in death occurs far from Hollywood every day, in communities that rarely attract federal task forces or wall-to-wall media coverage.

Fifteen years in federal prison is no slap on the wrist. But the real measure of this prosecution will be whether it deters the next dealer from treating a client's addiction as a business opportunity rather than a death sentence waiting to happen.