Matthew Perry's 'Ketamine Queen' Faces Justice: The Dark Side of Hollywood
BROADWAY NIGHTMARE: David Schwimmer Looks Downcast as Friend's Former Dealer Takes Plea Deal
It was a somber night on Broadway last Tuesday, as Friends star David Schwimmer attended the opening night of "Take A Banana For The Ride" in NYC. But what should have been a celebratory evening for the actor turned into a painful reminder of his former co-star Matthew Perry's tragic death.
Perry, 54, passed away in October 2023 after suffering an accidental overdose of ketamine at his home in Los Angeles. Now, his friend and former dealer Jasveen Sangha has taken a plea deal, which could potentially land her behind bars for less than 10 years.
According to sources close to the case, Sangha was initially facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison after being charged with supplying Perry with the fatal dose of ketamine. However, under the terms of the plea agreement, that minimum has been lifted, allowing her to potentially receive a lighter sentence for her role in Perry's death.
As news of Sangha's plea deal broke, legal analyst and federal criminal defense attorney Lou Shapiro spoke exclusively with The Scholarly Note about the implications of the case. "When you look at the overwhelming evidence against her," Shapiro explained, "it was clear that she had nowhere to go. There was no way for her to argue that she didn't intentionally try to harm Matthew or cause his death."
Shapiro went on to say that Sangha's decision to take the plea deal is likely due to the fact that her co-defendants had already pleaded guilty earlier in the case. "This sends a big message to the medical industry," Shapiro emphasized, "that doctors and medical professionals will be held fully accountable for any death or bodily injury that results from their actions."
The case against Sangha has been ongoing since October 2023, when it was revealed that she had sold Perry 51 vials of ketamine through his personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa. In addition to the charges related to Perry's overdose, Sangha also admitted to selling four vials of ketamine to another victim in August 2019.
As part of her plea deal, Sangha will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for one count of distributing ketamine on a premises used for the purpose of distributing a controlled substance. She could potentially receive up to 10 years in federal prison for each count of distributing ketamine, as well as up to 15 years for the count related to Perry's death.
The case has been marred by allegations that several medical professionals were involved in supplying Perry with large quantities of ketamine, including Dr. Salvador Plasencia, who agreed to plead guilty to four counts of ketamine distribution earlier this year. Another doctor, Mark Chavez, and two acquaintances of Perry's, Erik Fleming and Kenneth Iwamasa, have also pleaded guilty in connection with the case.
As news of Sangha's plea deal broke, David Schwimmer was seen looking somber as he attended the opening night of "Take A Banana For The Ride" on Broadway. In a tribute to his friend, Schwimmer had spoken out about Perry's generosity and kindness after his passing.
"It was a sad night," Shapiro reflected, "as the reality of Matthew's death continues to sink in for all of those involved. But it's also a testament to the fact that justice will be served, even if it takes time."
In a statement obtained by The Scholarly Note, United States Attorney Bilal A. Essayli said, "Upon entering her guilty plea, Sangha will face at her sentencing hearing a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison on the drug-involved premises count."
