LOS ANGELES — Federal prosecutors secured a 15-year prison sentence for Jasveen Sangha, the woman who pleaded guilty to distributing the ketamine that caused the 2023 death of actor Matthew Perry, according to court proceedings in Los Angeles on Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett imposed the sentence after finding Sangha’s admitted role in the fatal drug sale and broader trafficking activity warranted a substantially longer term than those given to other defendants in the case.
According to court filings and statements made during sentencing, Sangha admitted to maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of ketamine distribution, and one count of distribution resulting in death. Prosecutors said the final transaction included approximately $6,000 in cash for multiple ketamine vials, one of which was later linked to Perry’s fatal overdose at his Los Angeles home in October 2023.
The Los Angeles County medical examiner previously ruled that acute ketamine effects were the primary cause of Perry’s death, with drowning listed as a secondary factor after he was found unresponsive in a hot tub. The sentencing marks one of the most significant legal milestones in the federal investigation that followed the actor’s death and led to charges against five defendants, including physicians and intermediaries who prosecutors said facilitated access to the drug.
During the hearing, victim impact statements were delivered by Perry’s family members, who described the continuing emotional consequences of the loss. Sangha, addressing the court before sentencing, acknowledged responsibility for what she called “horrible decisions,” while defense counsel argued addiction and Perry’s own efforts to obtain ketamine were central factors in the case. The court ultimately sided with prosecutors’ recommendation for a 15-year term.
Investigation Details
Federal prosecutors said Sangha operated a long-running narcotics distribution business from her North Hollywood residence, supplying ketamine and other drugs to affluent clients. The court also considered evidence that she continued dealing after learning a prior customer had died in 2019, which prosecutors cited as relevant to culpability and sentencing severity.
Charges & Legal Status
The sentence follows Sangha’s guilty plea entered in September, making her the third defendant sentenced in the case. Other co-defendants include a physician who admitted illegally supplying ketamine to Perry and received a 2½-year prison term, while additional defendants — including Perry’s former assistant — remain awaiting sentencing in federal court.
Background
Perry had publicly discussed long-term struggles with substance dependency and had been receiving legally prescribed ketamine treatment for depression before prosecutors said he sought additional supplies outside medical channels. Authorities allege that illegal sourcing through multiple intermediaries escalated in the days immediately before his death.
