Jasveen Sangha, a 41-year-old accused drug dealer, was charged in connection with the death of actor Matthew Perry, who died of an accidental overdose of ketamine. Sangha pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy to distribute ketamine and maintaining a drug-involved premises. She was held without bail as a flight risk and her lawyer argued that the case is not criminal just because it is a tragedy. Sangha was previously arrested in another federal drug case and faces a potential sentence of 10 years to life in prison if convicted in Perry’s death.
The federal indictment alleges that Sangha became the go-to person for Perry’s acquaintance, Eric Fleming, for ketamine supplies. Over a period of two weeks, Sangha allegedly sold approximately 15 vials of ketamine to Perry’s intermediary for $11,000 in cash. After Perry’s death, Sangha texted Fleming to delete all their messages and later posted on Instagram a highlight reel of herself in Tokyo. Born in Britain and raised in the U.S., Sangha studied at the University of California, Irvine, and worked at Merrill Lynch before obtaining an MBA from the Hult International Business School in London in 2010.
Federal prosecutors stated that Sangha had been selling ketamine and other drugs since at least 2019 and had converted her home into a “stash house.” A search of her residence after Perry’s death revealed evidence of drug trafficking, including 79 vials of ketamine and 3.1 pounds of various drugs like methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine, and prescription drugs. U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada described Sangha’s home as a “drug-selling emporium” and her phone contained video files related to drug trafficking, including a video of her allegedly cooking ketamine to convert it into a powder.
Sangha had previous knowledge of ketamine’s dangers as an Alaska man overdosed on ketamine allegedly provided by her in 2019. After his death, a relative sent a text to Sangha blaming her for selling the ketamine that caused his death. Despite her glamorous social media presence and jet-setting lifestyle, Sangha’s legal troubles have tarnished her reputation. Along with her co-defendants, Sangha is embroiled in one of the highest-profile celebrity overdose cases in recent years. The legal proceedings surrounding Perry’s death have attracted significant media attention, with prosecutors alleging Sangha’s involvement in supplying the drugs that led to his fatal overdose. If convicted, she faces a lengthy prison sentence for her role in the incident.
