In a recent development, renowned attorney Mark Geragos has stepped forward to defend his client, Jasveen Sangha, who has been implicated in the tragic demise of actor Matthew Perry.
Sangha, who has been dubbed "The Ketamine Queen," is one of five individuals accused of playing a role in Perry's untimely death last October. Geragos, however, has vehemently denied these allegations, asserting that his client had no connection with the deceased actor.
According to Newsweek, Geragos expressed his discontent with the sensational nickname given to his client in the indictment, stating, "Even though I give the US Attorney an A for creativity in nicknaming her in the indictment 'The Ketamine Queen,' there's no basis for that." He further emphasized that the coroner's report did not indicate homicide but rather an accidental death. Geragos added, "I think all of these so-called urban legends that somehow my client knew Matthew Perry are demonstrably false."
Matthew Perry, known for his stellar performances, was discovered lifeless in a hot tub at his Los Angeles residence on October 28, aged 54. Initial reports suggested a possible drowning, but subsequent findings in December attributed his death to the acute effects of ketamine. Interestingly, no drugs were discovered at the scene of his death.
The prosecution alleges that Sangha knowingly sold Perry the potentially lethal drug, ketamine. This is not the first time Sangha has been implicated in such a case. In August 2019, she reportedly sold ketamine to Cody McLaury, who tragically overdosed hours later. This information was disclosed by the US Attorney's office during an August 15 press conference regarding the arrests in Perry's case.
Following McLaury's death, Sangha reportedly conducted a Google search querying if ketamine could be listed as a cause of death. After Perry's death, a search warrant executed at Sangha's residence revealed a veritable drug den, with approximately 79 vials of ketamine and about 3.1 pounds of orange pills containing methamphetamine, psilocybin mushrooms, cocaine, and what appeared to be fraudulently obtained prescription drugs.
Ciaran McEvoy, Public Information Officer at the US Attorney's Office, clarified that the nickname "The Ketamine Queen" was not their creation but was used by her customers. Geragos, however, remains unimpressed, stating, "I think that this case has got a great degree of attention because of the novelty of the charging decision, meaning the US attorney has been very aggressive and ambitious in their theory of this prosecution. So I take issue with naming her a nickname in the indictment. I take issue with the idea that she's somehow responsible for this tragic death."
Sangha, along with Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 42, is scheduled to stand trial on March 4, 2025. Both face multiple charges and could potentially spend decades in federal prison. Neither has entered a plea yet. Three others, including Perry's personal assistant Kenneth Iwamasa, Dr. Mark Chavez, and Erik Fleming, have all pleaded guilty to their charges.
Officials revealed last month that Perry initially sought treatment for depression and anxiety. He reportedly became addicted to intravenous ketamine at a local clinic. When the clinic doctors refused to increase his dosage, he allegedly turned to "unscrupulous doctors" and street drug dealers, who exploited Perry's vulnerability for quick financial gain. This tragic case underscores the urgent need for stricter regulation and oversight in the medical and pharmaceutical sectors.
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