Last updated: April 14, 2026. Jasveen Sangha — widely known as the “Ketamine Queen” — is currently in federal prison after being sentenced to 15 years on April 8, 2026, for her role in supplying the ketamine that killed Friends star Matthew Perry. Searches for her name have surged across the US this week as major outlets covered the high-profile sentencing hearing in Los Angeles.
Who Is Jasveen Sangha?
Jasveen Sangha, 42, is a dual US–UK citizen born in London and raised in Calabasas, California. She graduated from the University of California, Irvine, and for a time presented herself online as an art curator and lifestyle influencer. By 2017 she was a part-owner of a nail bar in Studio City, Los Angeles. Behind this public-facing life, however, federal prosecutors allege she had been running a significant drug distribution operation out of her North Hollywood apartment since at least 2019, selling ketamine to a high-end Hollywood clientele. Associates and customers reportedly called her the “Ketamine Queen” — a nickname that would later become the centrepiece of one of the most widely covered celebrity-linked drug cases in recent US history.
What Did She Do? The Federal Charges
Sangha was indicted on federal drug charges stemming from the death of actor Matthew Perry in October 2023. On September 3, 2025, she entered a guilty plea to five federal counts:
- One count of maintaining a drug-involved premises (her North Hollywood apartment)
- One count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death
- Three counts of distribution of ketamine
Together these charges carried a maximum sentence of up to 65 years in federal prison. Prosecutors argued that Sangha had operated a sophisticated, high-volume drug trafficking network from her home for at least five years, selling large quantities of illicit ketamine — a Schedule III controlled substance — to multiple clients. Among those who died after purchasing drugs from her was Cody McLaury, who overdosed in August 2019, making Perry’s death the second fatal overdose directly linked to her supply.
The Matthew Perry Connection
Matthew Perry, beloved worldwide for playing Chandler Bing in the hit sitcom Friends, died on October 28, 2023, at his Los Angeles home. The cause of death was ruled acute ketamine toxicity. Federal investigators identified a chain of supply that led back to Sangha: Perry’s personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, obtained vials of ketamine through an intermediary named Jasveen Sangha after the actor’s previous supplier — Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a doctor who had been legally prescribing ketamine — reduced the amounts he was providing. Sangha sold approximately 50 vials to Iwamasa through this arrangement. Prosecutors stated that the specific dose responsible for Perry’s fatal overdose came directly from one of those vials. The case drew intense public attention both because of Perry’s fame and because it highlighted the dangers of the illicit ketamine market, which federal authorities say has expanded dramatically since the drug gained mainstream attention as an antidepressant treatment.
Her Sentencing: 15 Years in Federal Prison
On April 8, 2026, Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett of the US District Court in Los Angeles sentenced Jasveen Sangha to 180 months (15 years) in federal prison — matching exactly the recommendation made by federal prosecutors. At sentencing, prosecutors described Sangha as having run an “elaborate drug operation” that financed an expensive lifestyle while placing vulnerable clients at lethal risk. Defence attorneys had sought a lighter sentence, arguing that Sangha herself had a history of substance dependence and that her role, while serious, was one part of a broader network. Judge Garnett was not persuaded. An important legal landmark in the case: in June 2025, federal prosecutors confirmed they would not seek the death penalty, which had briefly been under consideration given that the primary charge involved distribution resulting in death.
What Does a Federal Prison Sentence Mean in the US?
Because Sangha was convicted of federal drug offences, she will serve her sentence in a facility operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), not a state prison. This distinction matters significantly in the American criminal justice system.
Under US federal law, there is no parole for offences committed after November 1, 1987. Sangha will instead be subject to the good-time credit system: federal inmates can reduce their sentence by up to 54 days per year (roughly 15%) for good behaviour under the First Step Act. That means she could serve approximately 12–13 years if she earns maximum good-time credit. Federal prisoners are also eligible for placement in a Residential Reentry Centre (halfway house) in the final 12 months of their sentence to ease the transition back to the community.
Federal drug sentences of this length are typically served at a Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) or, in some cases, a Federal Medical Centre if the inmate has health needs. The BOP assigns inmates to a facility based on factors including security classification, proximity to family, and programme availability. For more information on how the US federal prison system works, see our guides to US Prison Information and our Full US Prison List.
Jasveen Sangha’s Current Status
As of April 2026, Jasveen Sangha has been sentenced and is awaiting formal designation to a Bureau of Prisons facility. The BOP designation process typically takes several weeks after sentencing. She is expected to begin serving her 15-year sentence at a federal facility in 2026. Her co-defendants in the broader Matthew Perry death investigation have faced separate proceedings: Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s assistant who directly administered the fatal doses, previously pleaded guilty and received a federal prison sentence; Dr. Salvador Plasencia also pleaded guilty to charges related to the illegal distribution of ketamine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Jasveen Sangha in prison?
Jasveen Sangha is in federal prison because she pleaded guilty to five federal drug charges, including the distribution of ketamine that resulted in the death of actor Matthew Perry. She was sentenced to 15 years on April 8, 2026, by a federal judge in Los Angeles.
How long is Jasveen Sangha’s sentence?
Sangha was sentenced to 15 years (180 months) in federal prison. Under the federal good-time credit system, she could potentially serve around 12–13 years if she receives maximum good behaviour credits under the First Step Act.
What is the “Ketamine Queen” charge?
The nickname “Ketamine Queen” was given to Sangha by prosecutors because she ran a large-scale ketamine distribution network from her North Hollywood apartment. Her key federal charge was distribution of a controlled substance (ketamine) resulting in death, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence and can lead to life imprisonment or, in rare cases, the death penalty. Prosecutors in this case did not seek the death penalty.
Is Jasveen Sangha in a federal or state prison?
Sangha is serving a federal sentence, so she will be housed in a Bureau of Prisons (BOP) federal facility — not a California state prison. The specific facility will be determined by the BOP based on her security classification and other factors.
Who else was charged in Matthew Perry’s death?
Several others were charged in connection with Matthew Perry’s fatal ketamine overdose. Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry’s personal assistant, pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute ketamine and to administering the doses that killed Perry. Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a doctor who had been illegally supplying ketamine to Perry, also pleaded guilty to federal charges. A third individual, Erik Fleming, acted as an intermediary between Sangha and Iwamasa.